Estimates of Genetic Parameters For Body Weight and Some Economic Important Traits in the Japanese Quails (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

Research was conducted to study the effect of selection on generation, age and sex for body weight, body dimension, carcass trait and their realized heritability (h2) in Japanese quail with foundation stock of about 784 (364 males and 672 females) quails. Data obtained were subjected to analyses of variance and realized heritability calculated as appropriate for the following: live body weight and carcass traits in generation of Japanese quail as influence by sex and age, carcass weight and some edible and Inedible traits of Japanese quail, live body dimensions of Japanese quail as Influenced by sex, generation and age, realized heritability for body weight, carcass and some Inedible traits, body length in Japanese quail. The result indicated that live body weight, carcass traits, organs and live body dimensions in generations of Japanese quail are positively influenced by sex and age and the females were consistently higher in body weight at day 35, 42, 49 and 56 of age. There was weekly body weight increased among base, first, second generations, the first generation showed lower pres-slaughtered live body weight and carcass traits values than base and second generation. Carcass weight, gizzard weight, kidney weight, testicular weight, head weight, leg weight, wing weight and abdominal weight of females showed higher figures than the males. Selection for high body weight significantly affects the carcass traits of base, first and second generation. First generation has lower values than base and second generation. That shows that selection for high body weight affects generations of quail selected positively. The body dimensions in the birds at different ages shows that their body length, keel length, pelvic circumference, shank length, thigh length, wing length, abdominal fat thickness increased with age. Body length, pelvic circumference, shank length and thigh length affects the sex of the quail but the females shows high body dimension than the males therefore selection for high body weight affects generations, sex, age of quail selected positively significantly (P<0.05) and (P<0.01). The realized heritability of selection base on body weight at day 35 in Japanese quail showed that live body weight and some of the Japanese quail traits parts are moderate in breast weight and high in most of the traits. Carcass and some inedible traits show higher h2 (0.46 – 0.83). Body length, pelvic circumference, shank length h2 are low, while wing length and abdominal fat thickness h2 are moderate and keel length and drumstick length were high.