The Effect of Divergent Selection for 4-wk Body Weight on Growth Curve Parameters and Carcass Components in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

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This study has been carried out to investigate the effect of short-term divergent selection for 4-wk body weight on growth curve parameters and carcass components in Japanese quail. Quail lines utilized were two divergently selected for high (HW) and low (LW) 4-wk body weight (BW) as well as a line as control (C). The results of the study indicated that quails in HW line had heavier BW than those in LW and in C lines from 6 and 11-d thereafter respectively. Moreover there was a significant difference for growth rate between lines from 4-d of age. To investigate the changes in carcass components, quails were slaughtered at 32 and 42-d of age. Results indicated that quails in HW line had significantly heavier carcass, thigh, heart, lung, liver, small intestine and breast dimensions (length, depth & weight) than quails in LW line for both age groups (P<0.05). In comparison with C line, HW quail showed higher weights in carcass components. The results also indicated that the selected lines for higher or lower 4-wk body weights diverged from control immediately after being hatched. Therefore, this method of selection can affect, in short-terms, the growth pattern as well as carcass traits of the selected birds.

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