Genetic studies on some economic traits of Rhode Island Red Jilani M.H., Singh C.B.*, Sharma R.K., Singh Brijesh Department of Genetics & Animal Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 (UA) * Corresponding author
Abstract The data for the present study was taken from 740 pullets of RIR strain, which were produced from 50 sires and 198 dams in 3 hatches and maintained by commercial poultry breeding organization. Mean values, heritability estimates, genetic and phenotypic correlations were computed to evaluate the performance of economic traits and their nature of relationship. The average of 8-WKBW, 20-WKBW, 40-WKBW, ASM, 40-WKEP and 35-WKEW were found as 550.21±1.65 g, 1395.68±5.05 g, 1673.24±5.64 g, 146.16±0.33 days, 107.19±0.10 eggs and 54.32±0.0089 g, respectively. Pooled heritability estimates of the corresponding traits based on sire component of variance were 0.45±0.13, 0.41±0.12, 0.40±0.12, 0.50±0.13, 70±0.16 and 0.40±0.12, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of 8-WKBW with 40-WKBW was positive and significant. The 20-WKBW had negative and significant correlation with ASM both on genetic and phenotypic levels. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of ASM with egg production and egg weight were negative but significant. The results of the present study revealed that the egg production potential of RIR strain at par with White Leghorn (WLH) and these results indicated that Rhode Island Red (RIR) flock under study was an elite stock with optimum body weight at 8, 20, 40 weeks of age, early sexual maturity, higher egg production and optimum egg weight. Top Key words Heritability, correlation, Rhode Island Red. Top |