Estimation of genetic parameters for body weight traits in squab pigeons

SE Aggrey,KM Cheng

doi:10.1186/1297-9686-24-6-553

Abstract

Summary - Seven hundred and two squabs (young pigeons) from 144 pairs of Silver King x White King cross parents were reared by either their genetic or foster parents. Heritabilities were estimated for body weight at hatch, 3d, 1 wk, 2 wk, 3 wk and 4 wk (market age) of age and the values were 0.70, 0.23, 0.22, 0.21, 0.30 and 0.57, respectively. Genetic correlations among these body weight traits ranged from 0.26 to 0.82. Heritability estimates for weekly gains were 0.13, 0.00, 0.12 and 0.05. These estimates indicated that simultaneous genetic improvement of body weight at the different ages would be feasible. Production efficiency could be increased through selection to improve wk 3 body weight so that squabs could be marketed a week earlier than the current practice. pigeon / heritability / genetic correlations / body weight / weight gain

Highlights

Pigeons are widely used as experimental models in biomedical research and have been raised for meat production
Phenotypic standard deviations and heritability estimates of body weight and weight gain at different ages are presented in table 1
The heritability estimates for body weights were generally higher than estimates for weight gains

Summary

Introduction

Pigeons are widely used as experimental models in biomedical research and have been raised for meat production. Commercial squab (young pigeon) production has existed in North America since the early 1900s (Levi, 1974; Stanhope, 1978) and annual production is over one and half million squabs in the United States and Canada (Cheng, 1986). A pair of pigeons can raise about 15 squabs per year. Meat from squabs is produced commercially, information regarding breeding techniques and advances is lacking. No concentrated effort in selection to improve the efficiency of production (in terms of the number of squabs produced by a breeding pair) has been made since Australia’s Squab Production Tests of the early 1930s (Dark, 1973)

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Results

Conclusion