Phenotypic characteristics of the gl sire line for production of autosexing Japanese quails
The implementation of autosexing in industrial production of quail eggs and meat would give serious impetus to this poultry breeding branch. Several sex-linked factors could be used in the production of meat-type or egg-type autosexing quails. The least investigated alternative is the carriership of...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Trakia University
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Trakia Journal of Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://tru.uni-sz.bg/tsj/N%201,%20Vol.16,%202018/H.Lukanov.pdf |
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| Summary: | The implementation of autosexing in industrial production of quail eggs and meat would give serious impetus to this poultry breeding branch. Several sex-linked factors could be used in the production of meat-type or egg-type autosexing quails. The least investigated alternative is the carriership of the sex-linked cinnamon plumage colour. A sire line for production of autosexing Japanese quails designated as GL line with cinnamon plumage colour was created in the poultry breeding unit to the Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University – Stara Zagora. In 2017, exterior traits of this line were investigated in birds at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 45, 60 and 90 days of age. The live body weight was determined after sexing of birds at 21 days of age until sexual maturity (60 and 90 days of age). At 90 days of age, the main exterior traits were determined as well as the values of stockiness index, long-leggedness index and massiveness index in both genders.
The plumage colour of quails from the GL line was gray-creamy, with a marked sexual dimorphism regarding the colour of feathers of the front part of the neck and breast, allowing for sexing of birds at about 21 days of age. The live weight of adult female Japanese quails from the GL line was by 19-20% higher than that of males. The difference is attributed to the genital system development. Sexually mature female quails (90 days old) weighed 314.17±4.37 g, and males: 252.47±2.46 g. The exterior traits and body proportions were associated to the potential for high egg production of GL layer quails, hence the higher values of the massiveness index, stockiness index and long-leggedness index than respective values of the male gender. |
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| ISSN: | 1312-1723 1313-3551 |