Genetic and phenotypic estimation of certain external egg quality in Quail

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Poultry Farm / Animal Resources Department, College of Agriculture, Anbar University, and over the period from 1/5/2010 until 1/6/2010, using 278 eggs collected from 37 families as 2nd generation progeny. The aim of this study was to obtain statistical means of certain external egg quality (egg weight, egg height, width, shape index, shell serves area, shell weight, shell ratio, shell weight to egg serves area, egg specific gravity and shell shape index) and to estimates genetic parameter in Quail . Results obtained showed there were many variations in traits mean, and the Heritabilities were arranged from moderated to high values quality (egg weight 0.55, egg height 0.38, width 0.52, shape index 0.48, shell serves area 0.62, shell weight 0.38, shell weight to egg serves area 0.42 and shell shape index 0.42). The high coefficient genetic correlation indicated the ability of using egg weight and shell shape index to improve certain external egg quality.