Summary Residual maximum likelihood procedure was applied to analyse data from a one‐to‐one pedigreed Japanese quail population, using an animal model to estimate the genetic parameters of weekly liveweights. Records of 1108 animals from 113 sires and 152 dams were analysed. An individual animal model was used. The heritabilities of weights for hatching (HW) with their standard errors (SE), week 1 (W1), week 2 (W2), week 3 (W3), week 4 (W4), week 5 (W5) and week 6 (W6) were 0.51 ± 0.05, 0.32 ± 0.06, 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.21 ± 0.06, 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.15 ± 0.04 and 0.14 ± 0.04, respectively. The strongest genetic correlations were found between W1 and W3 (0.98 ± 0.11). Generally, genetic correlations were higher than the phenotypic correlations. The highest phenotypic correlation (0.85) was between the W4 and W5 weights. Strong genetic correlations among the weekly weights suggest that selection for W5 or W6 weight may be based on weights recorded earlier.

Effects of L-carnitine administration via drinking water on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters and abdominal fatty acid composition of ducks was examined. One hundred day-old Turkish native duck chicks were divided into two groups, each with five replicates and given the same diets with 0 and 200 mg/l carnitine chlorhydrate via drinking water. The study lasted 8 weeks, with the first 4 weeks as a starter and the last 4 weeks as grower period. At the end of the study five ducks were randomly selected from each subgroup for slaughter. Growth performance parameters of ducks were not affected significantly by L-carnitine administration. Live weight, daily weight gain, cumulative feed consumption and average feed conversion efficiency were found to be 1490 and 1621 g, 26.0 and 28.1 g, 5386 and 5662 g, 3.75 and 3.54 kg/kg in the control and in the carnitine groups respectively. L-carnitine administration did not effect carcass traits and serum cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride and glucose levels. Total saturated fatty acid content of abdominal fat significantly decreased, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid content were not affected by L-carnitine administration. In conclusion, L-carnitine administration by drinking water did not affect growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters in ducks.

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Fully pedigreed records of a Japanese quail population were analyzed for genetic parameters of egg and BW traits. A restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure was applied in univariate and bivariate analyses. Quantitative genetic analyses, including maternal effects, were carried out on the records of 947 male and 861 female birds (total = 1,808). The traits were analyzed with bird as a random factor to fit the additive direct effect, bird being the individual for which the trait was recorded, namely hen (dam) for egg traits and chick (progeny) for BW. Permanent environmental effects (0.29 to 0.35) on egg traits were higher than corresponding heritabilities (0.18 to 0.25). Significant maternal genetic and maternal permanent effects were measured for hatching BW. The heritabilities of weekly BW were low, and decreasing by 5 to 6 wk of age. They were 0.07, 0.18, 0.19, 0.18, 0.19, 0.13, and 0.15 from hatching to 6 wk, respectively. Strong correlations were detected between direct genetic effects for egg traits and maternal genetic effect for BW traits. Applying such detailed analyses in the study of both egg and BW traits provides procedures to specifically evaluate Japanese quail and poultry in general. The results illustrated that the maternal permanent environmental effects made larger contributions to the variability of egg traits than did direct genetic effects. This situation implies that rearing of birds, healthcare, and feeding are very important determinants of egg characteristics.

Growth and carcass characteristics of Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı × Hair crossbred goat kids were investigated in this study. Seven kids, having live weights between 25 and 30 kg, were slaughtered. It was found that the live weights of Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı × Hair kids were 3.90 kg and 27.50 kg, 3.04 kg and 16.91 kg, and 3.58 kg and 22.07 kg at birth and on the 120th day, respectively. Honamlı kids had higher body measurements, as well as birth and live weights, when compared to the other genotypes. While flocks had an important effect (P < 0.001) on all growth periods, the effect of dam age on body measurements was also significant (P > 0.05), except on the 30th day of age. While cold carcass weight was 12.38 kg, 11.41 kg, and 11.81 kg, respectively, for Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı × Hair (F 1) kids, cold dressing percentage based on empty body weight was 44.72%, 43.71%, and 44.08%, respectively, for Honamlı, Hair, and Honamlı × Hair (F 1) kids. Weights and percentages of long leg, ribs, and shoulders did not have any significant differences between the genotypes (P > 0.05). Fast-growing animals with high meat production could be bred based on the results of this study.