Genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Japanese quail using ultrasonic and morphological measurements

Abstract

1. A study was conducted to evaluate the carcass composition of 1083 live birds using ultrasonic and morphological measurements and to estimate the genetic relationship between predicted and dissected carcass composition in Japanese quail. 2. Birds were reared for 35 d, and morphological measurements consisting of the length and width of breast muscle were recorded for all birds using a digital caliper. After slaughtering, the weight and percentage of carcass traits were measured on chilled carcasses. The dimensions of breast muscle were measured in 638 birds with an ultrasound scanner before slaughter at 35 d of age. 3. Genetic parameters from univariate and bivariate analyses were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood using ASREML software. 4. Genetic correlations between body weight at 35 d (BW35) and the percentage of carcass traits were low. Therefore, selection for BW35 may not effectively improve the yield of carcass components in Japanese quail. 5. High genetic correlations between carcass traits and ultrasonic measurements compared to morphological measurements suggest that the ultrasonic technique is a better method to improve breast weight and yield in Japanese quail.

Influences of Dietary Supplementation with Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Performance, Parameters of Growth Curve and Carcass Characteristics in Japanese Quail

“…Having obtained similar results, Walite et al [53] reported that the mean values of the breast, leg and wing were 29.1%, 15.9% and 11.8%, respectively. Akbarnejad et al [54] found lower averages than the mean values determined in this study, and the yield of cold carcass, breast and leg were found to be 65.0%, 24.7% and 15.1%, respectively. Egg production, fertility, early, late and total embryonic death rates and mean analysis of variance are given in Table 6.…”

Remarkable Correlation of Non-Genetic Factors With Growth Traits in Two Breeds of Sheep

“…However, the present study found that it is profitable to raise quails for the first five weeks of age because the weight gain progress attends its highest ratio in this short period of life. On the other hand, several reports were suggested that the LBW was affected by the gender of the birds (1,17). This is since females are bigger in body size than males, so it is profitable to be raised after two sexes̓ separation.…”

In vivo determination of domestic quail (Coturnix japonica) muscle development by ultrasonography as a function of energy levels

“…Akbarnejad et al 14 worked with a genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Japanese quails using ultrasound and morphological measurements and observed that the estimation of the breast ultrasound image had a high genetic correlation with the estimation of morphological measurements performed after slaughter. The authors further stated that breast muscle ultrasound measurements could effectively predict breast weight and performance in Japanese quails.…”

“…For the analysis of the data from the ultrasound of the birds, the SAS 14 program was used. The measurements were analyzed using multiple linear regression (Proc.…”