BODY WEIGHT PREDICTION AND PHENOTYPIC CORRELATION WITH LINEAR BODY MEASUREMENTS IN TWO STRAINS OF JAPANESE QUIAL

Abstract

The study was conducted to predict and correlate body weight with linear body measurements (LBMs) using 80 unsexed F1 progeny produced by 24 Panda White and Cinnamon Brown strains of Japanese quail. Data on body weight and LBMs (body width,BW; shank length, SL; body length, BL; wing length, WL; thigh length, TL; keel length, KL and body girth, BG) were taken on individual quails at weekly intervals from 3 to 6 weeks of age. Stepwise multiple regression and Pearson’s Product Moment correlation analyses were performed. Accuracy of body weight prediction was generally low based on the coefficients of determination (R2) which ranged from 15 to 45% in all ages for both strains. The R 2 values decreased in Panda White strain and increased in Cinnamon Brown strain at 3 and 6 weeks of age, respectively. Thigh length was the best single predictor of body weight (R2= 26%) at 3 weeks in Panda White strain. Wing length and BL partially predicted body weight most accurately (R2= 45%) at 6 weeks of age in Cinnamon Brown quails. Significant (P<0.05) positive correlation coefficients (r) existed between body weight and TL (r =0.50) in Cinnamon Brown and KL (r =0.47) in Panda White both at 4 weeks; SL (r =0.39) in Panda White at 5 weeks and BL (r = 0.43), WL (r =0.48) and TL (r =0.40) in Cinnamon Brown and BL (r =0.48) in Panda White each at 6 weeks of age. Correlation coefficients of other traits were either positive or negative but non-significant (P>0.05). Body weight can best be predicted at younger age with TL in Panda White and at older age with both WL and BL in Cinnamon Brown quails. Genetic improvement of body weight can be realised as correlated responses by indirect selection of some LBMs at 4 weeks of age in both Cinnamon Brown and Panda White strains of Japanese quail.