Genetic evaluation for growth traits in Japanese quail

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of animal wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University

2 Department of animal wealth, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University

3 Department of Theriogenoology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University

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%)

Keywords