Inheritance of growth and confirmation traits in CARI-Devendra poultry strain

The data for the present study was taken from 850 broilers (490 males and 360 females) of CARI-DEVENDRA strain, which were produced from 40 sires and 155 dams in three hatches. Mean values, heritability estimates, genetic and phenotypic correlation were computed to evaluate the performance. The combined mean values of day old, 6 and 8week body weight, breast angle, shank length and keel bone length at 8 weeks were found as 39.30±0.28 g, 1038.00±5.28 g, 1545.35±6.43 g, 70.66±0.06 0, 7.20± 0.03 cm, and 9.57±0.08 cm respectively. Combined heritability estimates of the corresponding traits based on sire component of variance were 0.14±0.058, 0.37±0.069, 0.30±0.322, 0.45±0.156, 0.35±0.663 and 0.27±0.055 respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of day old body weight were positive but significantly correlated with 8-week body weight and shank length. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of 6week body weight with 8-week body weight, breast angle, shank length and keel bone length were positive and significant except phenotypic levels of at 8-week body weight and breast angle. The breast angle was positive and significantly correlated with keel bone length on genetic and phenotypic levels. The results indicated that the CARI-DEVENDRA strain under study was an elite stock under -2°C to 15°C temperature with higher body weight at 6 and 8week body weight.