The Heritability of Body Weight, Gain, Feed Consumption, and Feed Conversion in Broilers

Heritability Estimates and Genetic Correlations Among Several Traits in a Meat-Type Poultry Population ,

“…The range in heritability estimates for early body weight is wide with a high of .88 in females, Thomas et al (1958), and a low of .05 for males, Goodman and Jaap (1960). In all cases where comparison was possible the heritability of female weight was higher than the heritability of male weight.…”

The Relationship Between Feed Conversion and Ether Extract of Broilers

“…Considerable differences have been observed between males and females in their ability to utilize feed efficiently; while Fox and Bohren (1954) and Thomas et al (1958) have reported interand intra-strain differences, respectively, in the ability of broilers to utilize feed efficiently. Brody's (1935) supposition that chemical analyses would show less storage of protein and water and more storage of fat by low efficiency strains was not supported by the results Palmer et al (1946) obtained with rats.…”

“…The experimental procedures for han-dling the New Hampshire broilers to ten weeks of age has been outlined in detail by Thomas et al (1958). In the last of seven trials the percent ether extract was determined for groups of males and females with high and low feed conversion from four to ten weeks of age.…”

Selection for food conversion in broilers: Predicted responses to selection for economic efficiency

“…The last set was derived from the results of Fox and Bohren (1954), Thomas et al (1958), Siegel (1962), Merritt (1966), Goto (1968), Kinney (1969), Wilson (1969), Pym (1971), Guill and Washburn (1974) and Pym and Nicholls (1979). The base population estimates of Pym and Nicholls were estimated by averaging over sexes, taking combined sire and dam component estimates for genetic variances and covariances.…”