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Repeatabilities, heritabilities, and phenotypic and genetic correlations of egg characteristics of the bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)

D.R. Ingram^I; H.R. Wilson^II; W.G. Nesbeth^II; C.J. Wilcox^II

^IDepartment of Poultry Science, Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803, USA
^IIPoultry and Dairy Science Departments, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida 32611. USA. Send correspondence to H.R.W.

ABSTRACT

Performance of a closed flock of Bobwhite Quail was measured during 3 yr. Mean egg characteristics were egg weight, 9.72 g; egg specific gravity, 1.075; shell thickness with membrane, 0.226 mm; shell thickness without membrane, 0.174 mm; and albumin height, 3.134 mm. Repeatabilities of single measures of these traits for eggs from the same bird in the same laying season were 0.58, 0.43, 0.40, 0.19, and 0.15; heritabilities of single measurements were 0.21, 0.25, 0.14, 0.16 and 0.08. Egg weight was correlated genetically with specific gravity, -0.36; with shell thickness with and without membrane, -0.07 and -0.05; with albumin height, 0.20. Genetic correlation of shell thickness with and without membrane was 0.50. Most phenotypic correlations were positive but close (50.08) to zero. Exceptions were egg weight and specific gravity, -0.19; specific gravity and shell thickness, 0.43 (with membrane) and 0.38 (without membrane); shell thickness with and without membrane, 0.47. Estimates agreed closely with those from extensive research in chickens. Those selection practices recommended for egg characteristics in other poultry should be appropriate for Bobwhite Quail.

Keywords: repeatabilities; heritabilities; phenotypic; genetic; correlations; egg; bobwhite; quail; Colinus virginianus.

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