Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms of three loci (SEMA3E, GH and TLX) that related with growth traits in local quail. A total of 720 birds (males and females) from three lines (desert, brown and white) were used. The results revealed that the effects of the line were significant on bird body weight and carcass weight and dressing percentage at 180 days at age. The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) value overall birds for body weight was ranged from -9.2173 to 10.0117, these results showed there were significant differences among high and low BLUP value groups in three quail lines under study. The PCR-RFLP results overall three lines showed that there were three, three and two alleles for SEMA3E, TLX and GH locus, respectively. This alleles gives twelve differences genotypes, the desert male quail with ACABAA genotype and desert female quail with AAABAA genotype (high group) for three loci under study give significantly higher body and carcass weight compared with another groups. In conclusion results showed that there are agreements between BLUP values with PCR-RFLP results to select best birds and the selection process with molecular technique can play a major positive and rapid role to improve and increase growth traits in these lines of local quail in Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Highlights
Quail is a model animal species due to its small body size, fast growth rate, early sexual maturity, lower cost of care and high reproductive rate [13]
Genetic studies of poultry species rely on Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) in their investigation
Data collected from PCR-RFLP and the use of MspI enzyme observes the effect of Growth Hormone (GH) gene polymorphic of quail on weight
Summary
Quail is a model animal species due to its small body size, fast growth rate, early sexual maturity, lower cost of care and high reproductive rate [13]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Measurement of growth and carcass traits This study was carried out in Grdarasha researches unit, under the supervision and regulations of ethic committee at college of agricultural engineering sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil For this purpose 720 newly hatched quail chicks of three local lines, desert [214], brown [250] and white [256] each line were randomly distributed into ten families; the mating system was in a ratio of one male to three females. A total 144 quail birds were selected for the study (weight and carcass trait), including 72 quails from the high production (H) and low production (L) line for each sex were isolated according to their differences in feather color and body weight. Dressed percentage were calculated according to procedure and formulae of [6]
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