Genetic studies on economic traits in Japanese quails

Four hundred thirty eight progeny of 20 sires belonging to brown strain (238) and white strain (200) contributed the data for the study of growth and production traits. The average mean value for body weights at day old, 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 8^th, 10^th and 12^th weeks of age, weight at sexual maturity, age at sexual maturity, 1^st egg weight, egg weight at 12 weeks and egg production up to 12 weeks of age was found to be 5.57±0.45, 59.01±0.18, 117.74±0.20, 155.36±0.17, 179.19±0.24, 197.35±0.37 and216.22±0.04g, 154.49±0.26g., 39.81±0.06 days, 8.56±0.31 and 9.85±0.03g. and 36.73±0.09 eggs, respectively. The heritability of the corresponding traits mostly ranged from low to moderate. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of age at sexual maturity with body weights, egg production and egg weight were negative, while no definite trend was observed between egg production and egg weight. The brown strain was superior to the white strain in terms of production and reproduction under similar environmental and management conditions.