Genetic parameters of egg production trait in Alabio and Mojosari ducks under selection

Abstract

Genetic parameters for egg production traits in Alabio and Mojosari ducks were estimated. Egg production data were collected from 530 Alabio and 461 Mojosari ducks. The ducks were 6th generation of selection program for egg production trait at the BPTU-HPT Pelaihari. Heritability values were estimated using paternal half-sib correlation method in a one-way analysis of variance. The result showed that heritability estimates for body weight at 16 weeks of age were high, in Alabio ducks (0.63±0.242) and in Mojosari duck (0.88±0.269). Heritability for body weight at first egg was 0.55±0.23 in Alabio duck and 0.44±0.222 in Mojosari duck. The heritability estimates for number of eggs from months 1-3 (EN3) and 1-6 (EN6), ranging from 0.30 to 0.46. The heritability for number of eggs from months 1-12 (EN12) was high in Alabio duck (0.62) and moderate in Mojosari duck (0.46). The EN12 had high genetic correlation with EN3 and EN6 (ranging from 0.80 to 0.99). EN12 had a negative genetic correlation with body weight and age at first egg (between -0.81 and -0.21). This finding indicates that EN3 could be used as a selection criteria to increase EN12 in Alabio and Mojosari ducks.