Divergent selection for body weight and yolk precursor in Coturnix coturnix japonica. 10. Response to selection over thirty generations

• Published in: Poultry science 1996-03, Vol.75 (3), p.303-310
• Main Authors: Nestor, K E, Bacon, W L, Anthony, N B, Noble, D O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; biological differences; blood plasma; Body Weight - genetics; Body Weight - physiology; caille; codorniz; correlacion genetica; correlation genetique; Coturnix - genetics; Coturnix - growth & development; critere de selection; criterios de seleccion; diferencias biologicas; difference biologique; egg yolk; Egg Yolk - metabolism; Female; fosforo; genetic correlation; heredabilidad; heritabilite; heritability; inbred lines; jaune d' oeuf; lignee consanguine; lineas consanguineas; lipoproteinas; lipoproteine; lipoproteins; Male; peso; phosphore; phosphorus; Phosphorus - blood; plasma sanguin; plasma sanguineo; poids; quails; reponse a la selection; repuesta a la seleccion; selection criteria; selection responses; Selection, Genetic; weight; yema de huevo
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.0750303

Japanese quail lines were divergently selected for 30 generations for 4-wk BW (HW, LW) or plasma yolk precursor (HP, LP) as measured by total plasma phosphorus (TPP) at the beginning of lay. The HW, LW, HP, and LP lines were initiated from a randombred control line (R1). In the ninth generation of selection in the HW line, sublines were developed by continuing to select males for increased 4-wk BW whereas females were selected for increased (HW-HP line) or decreased (HW-LP) TPP. Individual selection was used in the HW, LW, HW-HP, and HW-LP lines. In the HP and LP lines, females were individually selected whereas males were selected on their full-sisters' performance. Realized heritabilities (h2), based on the linear regression of selection responses (corrected for environmental changes) on accumulated selection differential (weighted for the number of offspring produced) over generations, declined with selection in the HW, LW, HP and LP lines. The h2 of 4-wk BW in the HW line was 0.42 during the first 10 generations of selection and then declined to 0.30 during the next 20 generations of selection. In the LW line, realized h2 of 4-wk BW was 0.40, 0.16, and -0.12 in Generations 1 through 10, 11 through 20, and 21 through 30, respectively. The respective h2 for TPP in the HP line were 0.29, 0.17, and 0.14. The h2 of TPP in the LP line was 0.35 during the first 10 generations and essentially zero during the next 20 generations. Four-week BW and TPP were negatively associated in the HW, HP, and LP lines. There was no significant relationship between these two traits in the LW line.