Heritability and Genetic Correlation Between Productive and Biochemical Traits of White Japanese Quail

Abstract

Studying heritability and genetic correlation between traits is important to improvement genetic programs and indirect selection, for that, this study was conducted in the poultry field of Animal Production department - College of Agriculture - University of Kirkuk for the period from 28/3/2022 to 15/1/2023, to study heritability and genetic correlation between production and biochemical traits of white Japanese quail. One day hatched white quail chicks were obtained from College of Agriculture - University of Kirkuk, and reared for 35 days until reaching sexual maturity. Then chicks were randomly distributed to 30 families, with a male and a female for each family for two generations. Simple correlation between productive traits and blood biochemical were estimated, and heritability using full sibs method by variance between dam and total variances. The results of the study showed that there was a highly and significant genetic correlation between estrogen hormone in blood serum, egg production and egg mass, while a negative and highly significant genetic correlation was found between estrogen hormone and feed conversion ratio. Heritability values for productive and blood biochemical traits ranged from 0.22 to 0.42 and they considered within mediate heritability. The study recommended to use of selection programs and indirect genetic improvement based on some blood biochemical values (estrogens, total protein and glucose) due to their positive and significant association with productive traits of white Japanese quail.