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Heritability estimates and phenotypic correlations
of body and egg traits of domestic pigeon (Colomba
livia domestica)
reared on-station in Benue
State of Nigeria |
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1O.M.
Momoh,*1 P.E. Anebi and 2S.N. Carew
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1Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology,
College of Animal Science, 2Department of Animal Production
College of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373,
Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; *Corresponding author: O.M Momoh
Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science,
University of Agriculture, Makurdi Nigeria
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Abstract |
Genetic analysis of a
flock of domestic pigeons (Colomba
livia domestica) was undertaken to provide estimates of heritability
and phenotypic correlation of body and egg traits in the domestic
pigeon. A total of 600 squabs comprising 300 each of two generations
raised from 150 couples were used. Heritability estimates of body weight
at birth (BWB), week 1 (BWW1), week 2 (BWW2) week 3 (BWW3), week 4
(BWW4) and maturity (BWM); linear body measurements viz: body length
(BL), shank length (SL) and breast girth (BG) and some egg traits
namely, age at first egg (AFE), egg weight (EWT), egg length (ELT) and
egg width (EWD) and phenotypic correlations among them were estimated
using the method of regression of offspring on mid-parent performance
and Pearson correlation method, respectively.
The heritability estimates obtained were high for body weight at
various ages; (0.43+0.04 to 0.66+0.03), linear body
measurements: (0.49+0.06 to 0.68+0.05), egg traits: AFE
(0.52+0.07), EWT (0.48+0.07) and ELT (44+0.06).
EWD was moderately heritable (0.38+0.06). Phenotypic
correlations between body parameters and those among the egg traits were
positive and significant and hence demonstrate their importance in
determining the size of selection differentials in selection practices
for those traits. The moderate to
high heritability estimates was existence of appreciable additive
genetic variance in the studied pigeon population. Therefore, fast
response to mass selection would be expected.
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Keywords:
Body traits, Egg traits,
Heritability, Pigeon, Squabs |
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To cite this article:
Momoh OM, PE
Anebi and SN Carew,
2013.
Heritability estimates and phenotypic correlations of body and egg
traits of domestic pigeon (Colomba
livia domestica) reared On-station in Benue State of Nigeria.
Res.
Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 3(10), 370-373. |
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