Estimation of heritability in a broiler population

Data on 1649 broiler chickes of sire line of synthetic strain belonging to PRC, Pantnagar, were utilized for this study. The heritability estimates by halfsib correlation technique for body weight at day-old, 6, 8-week-old and feed consumption during 6-8 weeks of age were 0.43±0.002, 0.42±0.002, 0.31±0.001, 0.17±0.001. Confidence intervals of heritability estimates In among traits at 95% were 0.28 - 0.61, 0.27 - 0.59, 0.15 - 0.42, 0.06 - 0.29 and 99% were 0.24 - 0.67, 0.23- 0.66, 0.12 - 0.48, 0.04 - 0.33 respectively.