Genotype and Phenotype Interactions Influencing External Egg Quality Traits in Wild-Type Japanese Quails Reared in Borno State, Nigeria
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Date
2025-12-31
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African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC)
Abstract
This research estimated genetic and phenotypic correlations between external egg quality traits in Japanese quails reared in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria using Restricted Maximum Likelihood procedures. A total of 1,320 eggs were collected from 110 quail hens, progeny of the base population at weeks 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 of age and were used for egg quality analysis. Data were collected on 9 external egg traits; egg weight (EW), egg width (WE), egg height (EH), shell weight (SW), shell ratio (SR), average shell thickness (AVGST), egg shape index (ESI), egg surface area (ESA) and shell weight per unit surface area (SWUS). The estimates were low to high (0.01 - 0.99) for the co-efficients. Meanwhile, they were mostly moderate and high in magnitude indicating potentials for improvement. Highest negative correlations (-0.92) were obtained for EW and SR at ages10 and 12 weeks. At all ages, EW expressed positive genetic correlations with other external qualities, notably, EH, WE and SW. Because of high positive correlation between ESI and SR, eggs with round shape may likely have better SW than others. Phenotypic correlations followed similar patterns with attributes in both magnitude and signs.
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https://asric.africa/agricultural-sciences