Effects of different selection strategies on subsequent breeder performance, slaughter, and carcass traits of Japanese quail

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effect of different selection strategies in four closebred flocks (CBF) at three ages on subsequent breeder performance and carcass traits. A total of 540 Japanese quails already selected for higher body weight from four CBF (Major, Kaleem, Saadat, and Zahid) at three ages (10, 12, and 14 weeks) were subjected to 3 selection strategies (i.e. pedigree, mass selection, and randombred control). In pedigree selection, 108 birds with higher body weight were selected with full pedigree record whereas, in the mass selection, 324 birds with higher body weight were selected to be the parents of the next generation. However, in randombred control groups, 108 birds were selected without following any selection. The effect of selection strategies in parents of Japanese quails at 3 ages from 4 CBF was measured on subsequent breeder performance and carcass traits. Regarding productive performance, pedigreebased selected birds had the highest value for female body weight, average daily and fortnightly feed intake and average egg weight, whereas the mass selected birds revealed significantly higher production % and improved FCR (per dozen eggs and kg egg mass). Among different age groups, 14-week-old parents had the highest male and female body weight. However, no significant effect of different closebred flocks on production performance was observed in the present experiment. In conclusion, the pedigree-based and mass selection had a pronounced effect on productive performance and carcass traits, hence, can be an effective tool in the breeding of Japanese quails.