Comparison of the Production Performance of the third Generation Among four lines Selection on the Basis of Plumage Color in Quail

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance of the third-generation of quails selected according to the color of the plumage to produce a hybrid line distinguished by the productive performance depending on the color of the plumage. 48 females of different plumage (Black, Golden, White and Brown) were compared and transferred at the age of five weeks. To a hall dedicated to breeding containing rooms with dimensions of 40 x 40 x 40 cm and numbered. The females were randomly distributed to the rooms individually and for each line (12 females). The results of the study showed that there were significant (p≤0.05) differences in the effect of the colour of the plumage selection according to each line (golden, brown, white and black) in the average body weight at the age of five and six weeks, body weight at sexual maturity, weight of eggs produced within 60 days, and the number of days required to produce the first 60 eggs And mass of eggs during 60 days, while there was no significant effect between the plumage colour lines in the trait of average age at sexual maturity, weight of the first egg, number of days needed to produce the first 30 eggs, and number of eggs produced during 60 days. As for the phenotypic correlations, a positive and highly significant phenotypic correlation was found between the traits of body weight at five and six weeks of age and body weight at sexual maturity, as well as between egg weight, body weight at sexual maturity and egg mass.