Genetic parameters of growth and production traits of selected and control lines of Japanese quails.

Growth and production traits of selected and control lines of Japanese quails, comprising a total of 235 females which were the progeny of 50 sires were recorded upto 16 weeks of age. The growth of selected line quails was significantly superior to the control line for body weight at day old, 3, 4, 5 and 16 weeks of age. The control line although some what mature late, Produced 7.32 more eggs than the selected line. The difference between the line were significant for egg production and egg weight but not for age at sexual maturity. The heritability estimate pooled over the both lines were high for body weight at day old, 3 and 4 weeks of age and age at sexual maturity (0.51 to 0.98) and moderate for 5 and 16 weeks body weight, egg production to 16 weeks and egg weight at 16 weeks. The genetic and phenotypic correlations were high among body weight and egg weight and between body weight and egg weight. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of age at sexual maturity with other traits were mostly negative.