SELECTION INDICES FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF BROILERS

Data on 2170 broilers maintained at Poultry Research Unit of the university were utilized for the construction of conventional selection indices for genetic improvement of CARI-BRO Broilers. The traits included were 6 and 8 weeks body weight, body confirmation traits at 8 weeks of age for male line and 8 weeks body weight, feed efficiency 6-8 weeks, age at sexual maturity, weight at sexual maturity, egg production up to 40 weeks, egg weight at 32 weeks and body weight at 40 weeks for female line, In terms of genetic cost of restriction, 8 weeks body weight and breast angle were found to contribute significantly to the efficiency of the index for male tine. The index I-9 consisting 8 weeks body weight and body confirmation traits was found superior for improvement of body weight of male line broilers and index I-7 developed on the basis of age at sexual maturity, egg production up to 40 weeks egg weight at 32 weeks and 40 weeks body weight was found superior to the other indices for female line broilers.