in the White and with Haugh unit (-0.209)

A total of 108 two-weeks-old Japanese quail chicks were used to study the relationship between body weight and linear measurements and to predict body weight from linear measurements of body length (BL), body girth (BG), wing length (WL), shank length (SL), shank diameter (SD) and drum stick (DS).The results showed that the mean quail birds' body weights were 35.23g and 143.78g, at 2 nd and 8 th weeks, respectively. Body weight gain was increased between 2 and 6 weeks of age and thereafter decreased with advancing age. Female birds were significantly (P< 0.05) heavier than those of male counterpart at 6 th and 8 th weeks of age. Significantly positive correlations (P<0.01) were obtained between body weight and body measurements at 2 nd , 4 th and 8 th weeks. The best correlation was obtained between body weight and body girth at the 2 nd week of age (0.70). The estimates of coefficient of determination and predictive equations show that body weight in Japanese quail is linearly related to body measurements especially with body girth and body length. The study shows that it is possible for breeders to use BG and BL as criteria for assessment and early selection of Japanese quail for body weight.

No abstract

ABSTRACT:Records of 422 kits born in 96 litters were used to estimate heritability and repeatability of litter size at birth (LSB)

Locomotion problems limit access to drinkers and feeders with a resultant effect on birds' survival and productivity. In this study, gait score (GS), latency-to-lie (LTL) and their association with body weight (BWT) and morphometric traits in light weight (Nigerian Local, NL) and heavy weight (Nicholas White, NW) strains of turkeys were evaluated. A total of two hundred day-old Nigerian local and Nicholas white poults were used for the study. Gait of poults were scored at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age using Kestin gait scoring system. Other parameters measured include latency-to-lie, body weight and morphometric traits at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. The results showed that poults with normal walking ability (GS=0) in the light strain Nigerian local declined slightly from 88.4 percent at week 4 to 85.0 percent at week 16, while poults with normal walking ability (GS=0) in Nicholas white declined from 81.1 at week 4 to 16.4 percent at week 16, respectively. The GS of Nicholas White was higher (p<0.05) than that of NL at 8 and 16 weeks of age. The LTL values decreased (1310.1- 555.7 seconds) with the age of birds and were higher (p<0.05) in NL at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Correlation (r =-0.256 to 0.278) between BWT and GS was significant (p<0.05) at weeks 8 and 12 in NW and at weeks 12 and 16 in NL. BWT was correlated (p<0.05) with body girth, keel length, femur length, shank diameter and Tibia Metatarsus in both genotypes. There was significant correlation (p<0.05) between LTL and GS (r= -0.36 to -0.87), BWT and LTL (r= -0.24 to 0.31), BWT and LM traits (r= 0.56 to 0.96) in both genotypes. It was concluded that GS and LTL are influenced by genotype and age of poults.