Crossbreeding Effects on Some Egg Production and Reproductive Traits in Japanese Quail | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||
| Articles in Press, Corrected Proof, Available Online from 07 July 2025 PDF (593.68 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.381489.2822 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ramzi A. Ahmed1; Mohamed Ibrahim Shehab El-Din2; Rabee Mohammed Gheetas3; Esteftah Mohamed El-Komy* 4 | ||
| 1Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University | ||
| 2Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Egypt. | ||
| 3Animal Production Department Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt | ||
| 4Animal Production Department, Agriculture and Biology Research Institute, National Research Centre, El Buhouth St., 12622 Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| A crossbreeding experiment was conducted utilizing two selected lines of Japanese quail: HBW4, developed for elevated body weight at 4 weeks, and HTEW10, created for increased total egg weight produced by females during the first 10 weeks of laying. A total of 1512 crossbreed quail were utilized in this study, derived from four mating groups throughout three hatches, to evaluate direct heterosis (Hi), direct additive effects (Gi), and maternal effects (Gm) on the subsequent traits: Egg production and reproductive characteristics: egg weight (EW), age at sexual maturity (ASM), body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM), total egg number (TEN10) and weight produced (TEW10) during the initial 10 wks of laying, daily egg mass (DEM), fertility rates (FRT%), and hatchability percentages (HAT%). Substantial heterosis was observed for TEW10 (7.6 %) and DEM (12.1%), while direct additive effects on most egg production and reproductive traits were significant (ranging from -141.0 for TEW10 to 31.37 for BWSM. Maternal contributions significantly impacted all measured egg production and reproductive traits, with effects ranging from -15.49 BWSM for EW to 27.9 for TEW10. Crossing HBW4 sires with HTEW10 dams yields superior egg production and reproductive traits due to beneficial direct heterosis and the advantageous maternal line effects of HTEW10 dams. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Crossbreeding; Egg production; Quail; Reproductive traits | ||
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