Genetic evaluation for growth traits in Japanese quail.

Eman A. Manaa1, Khairy M. El-Bayomi2, Gamal A. Sosa3

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the means and genetic parameters for growth traits including body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and relative growth rate (RGR) of random population of Japanese quail. The second generation was higher than the first generation at hatching, 1st, 2nd and 3rd week of age (7.28, 28.14, 52.70 and 88.48 g; respectively). However, the base generation showed the highest values at 4th week, 5th week and 6th week of age (173.25, 189.53 and 205.23 g; respectively). The second generation had the highest values of ADG at hatching-1st, 1st -2nd, 2nd - 3rd, 4th -5th and 5th -6th week intervals (3.03, 3.50, 5.13, 4.01 and 2.72 g; respectively). Nevertheless, the first generation recorded the highest values of ADG at 3rd-4th week interval (5.22 g). The second generation had the highest values of RGR at hatching-1st, 1st -2nd, 2nd -3rd, 4th -5th, 5th -6th week intervals (116.99, 61.69, 52.60, 22.12 and 12.78 %; respectively). However, the first generation recorded the highest values of RGR at 3rd -4th week intervals (36.80%).

Key words

Japanese quail, Body weight, Average daily gain, Relative growth rate, Heritability.