Correlated changes in body weights due to selection for high humoral immune response in black turkey.

Correlated changes were evaluated in body weights of 141 poults of Black variety turkey at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16 weeks of age after onegeneration of selection for higher response to sheep RBCs (SRBC). Least squares analysis of variance revealed that the selected line had non-significantly lower body weights than the control line from 4 weeks onward. The hatch effect was non-significant on body weights at all ages except at 12 and 16 weeks. Males had significantly higher body weights than females from 2 weeks onwards. The present investigation revealed that selection for high SRBC response had no significant effect on body traits after one generation of selection in black variety of turkeys.