Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Body Weight of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Using Random Regression Model

The objectives of this research were to estimate the heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations for body weights of Japanese quails (Cotumix cotumix japonica) which breeding in Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Animal Science Unit using random regression model. The body weights of quails for hatching, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th week were determined as 8.21, 24.83, 66.41, 107.54, 145.00, 173.49 and 190.98 g, respectively. Also it was determined that body weights were affected by sex from the 4th week. The heritabilities of body weights for the same ages were estimated as 0.011, 0.105, 0.291, 0.413, 0.482, 0.518 and 0.532. The highest genetic correlation (0.980) was estimated between 1st-2nd week and 2nd-3rd week. Generally, genetic corelations were estimated higher than the phenotypic correlations.