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

Beygi, Hamid; Pakdel, Abbas; Moradi Shahr Babak, Mohammad

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

Authors

Hamid Beygi

Abbas Pakdel

Mohammad Moradi shahr babak

Abstract

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.

Keywords

carcass components

divergent selection

Growth curve

Japanese quail