<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The aim of this study was to estimate coefficients of heritability as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weight and carcass traits. The dataset contained records of 387 birds from the second crossbred generation. The following traits were recorded: body weight (BW) at 11 weeks, carcass weight (CW), breast muscle weight including superficial and deep muscle (BMW), leg muscle weight including thigh and shank (LMW), wings weight (WW), skin with subcutaneous fat weight (SW), abdominal fat weight (AFW), skeleton with the back muscle and inedible elements (SBM), and liver weight (LW). Estimates of variance components were obtained by the average information - REML algorithm in the ASReml package. Very high slaughter yield (74.90%) was obtained. Generally, the coefficients of heritability were high. The highest one of 0.75 was estimated for body weight at 11 weeks. High coefficients of h2 were estimated for breast muscle weight (0.69), wings weight (0.70), carcass weight (0.65), skin with subcutaneous fat weight (0.57) and skeleton with the back muscle (0.58), whereas h2 of liver weight was 0.29. Both phenotypic and genetic relationships between the recorded traits were usually positive. Generally, it seems that the crossbreeding scheme can be perceived as a suitable proposal for the breeding practice.</p></abstract>

The aim of this study was to estimate coefficients of heritability as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weight and carcass traits. The dataset contained records of 387 birds from the second crossbred generation. The following traits were recorded: body weight (BW) at 11 weeks, carcass weight (CW), breast muscle weight including superficial and deep muscle (BMW), leg muscle weight including thigh and shank (LMW), wings weight (WW), skin with subcutaneous fat weight (SW), abdominal fat weight (AFW), skeleton with the back muscle and inedible elements (SBM), and liver weight (LW). Estimates of variance components were obtained by the average information - REML algorithm in the ASReml package. Very high slaughter yield (74.90%) was obtained. Generally, the coefficients of heritability were high. The highest one of 0.75 was estimated for body weight at 11 weeks. High coefficients of h2 were estimated for breast muscle weight (0.69), wings weight (0.70), carcass weight (0.65), skin with subcutaneous fat weight (0.57) and skeleton with the back muscle (0.58), whereas h2 of liver weight was 0.29. Both phenotypic and genetic relationships between the recorded traits were usually positive. Generally, it seems that the crossbreeding scheme can be perceived as a suitable proposal for the breeding practice.

Genetic parameters of carcass traits in ducks from a crossbred population

Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland

Waterfowl Genetic Resources Station, Kołuda Wielka Experimental Station of the National Research Institute of Animal Production, Dworzyska, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland

Division of Poultry Performance Tests and Breeding, National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce, Sarmacka 7, 60-975 Poznań, Poland

Annals of Animal Science

{"article-title":"Genetic parameters of carcass traits in ducks from a crossbred population"}

The aim of this study was to estimate coefficients of heritability as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weight and carcass traits. The...

Genetic parameters of carcass traits in ducks from a crossbred population

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2013-0062

Keywords
body weight, carcass traits, correlations, crossbreeding, heritability

This content is open access.

Genetic parameters of carcass traits in ducks from a crossbred population

Published Online: Feb 13, 2014

Page range: 43 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2013-0062

Keywordsbody weight, carcass traits, correlations, crossbreeding, heritability

This content is open access.

Keywords
body weight, carcass traits, correlations, crossbreeding, heritability