Indian Journal of Poultry Science
Year : 2000, Volume : 35, Issue : 1
First page : ( 89) Last page : ( 90)
Print ISSN : 0019-5529.

Efficiency of selection indices for the improvement of economic traits in Japanese quail

Narayan Raj, Singh D.P., Agarwal S.K., Majumdar S.

Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar (UP) - 243 122.

Received:  24  April,  1999; Accepted:  3  January,  2000.

Abstract

A total of eleven selection indices utilising the variances and covariances for 4th week body weight (BW₄), age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg, number (EN₁₈) and egg weight at 18th week of age (EW₁₈) in all possible combination were constructed and their efficiency were compared. Equal relative economic weight were assigned to all the traits. On the basis of R_IH values and aggregate genetic gain, index I. (BW₄, ASM, EN₁₈ and EW₁₈) was found to be the best index followed by index I₂ (BW₄ ASM and EN₁₈) I₃ (BW₄, EN_II and EW_II) and I₇ (BW₄ and EN₁₈). R_IH values of these indices ranged from 81 to 86 percent. Selection on the basis of index I₁ would fetch desirable increase of 9.5 gin BW₄ and 3.4 egg (EN₁₈) per generation but there would be undersirable increase of 0.43 day in ASM and decrease of-098 g in EW₁₈. On the basis of gain in individual trait index I₇ was adjudged to be the best index having desirable gain of 8.8 g in BW₄ increase of 4.3 eggs in EN₁₈ with desirable decrease of 0.54 day in ASM without changing the EW₁₈ significantly.

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Key words

Selection indices, economic trait, Japanese quail.

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