Estimation of maternal and dominant genetic effect for body weight at 40 weeks in Rugao Yellow Chicken using bayesian method

The main purpose of the present paper is to evaluate the influence of the maternal genetic and dominant effects on the phenotypic variances of body weight at 40 weeks in Rugao Yellow chicken. The data were collected from Rugao Yellow Chicken for sequenced four generations from 2009 to 2011. A total of3 890 recorders from laying hen were evaluated. Direct genetic, maternal genetic and dominant genetic effects were embedded to the mixed models. The recorders at different day-olds were standardized to 280 d body weights. Models were compared using DIC values. The results suggested: genetic model on 280 d body weight should include direct and maternal genetic effects; the heritability of 280 d body weight was0.45, maternal genetic effect counted for 6 percent of phenotypic variances. The heritability for the body weight at 40 weeks were moderate. In the future, individual breeding values that should be better to include the maternal genetic effect would be useful in specific selection on Rugao Yellow Chicken.