Heritability and genetic correlation estimates for performance and carcass and body composition traits in a male broiler line

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 85; no. 5; pp. 837 - 843
• Main Authors: Gaya, L.G, Ferraz, J.B.S, Rezende, F.M, Mourao, G.B, Mattos, E.C, Eler, J.P, Michelan Filho, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-05-2006
• Subjects: abdominal fat; Abdominal Fat - anatomy & histology; Animal Feed; Animals; Body Composition - genetics; Body Composition - physiology; Body Weight - genetics; Body Weight - physiology; broiler chickens; carcass composition; Chickens - genetics; Chickens - growth & development; Feed conversion; Genetic Variation; Likelihood Functions; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - ultrastructure; Organ Size - genetics; selection criteria; selection response; Selection, Genetic; Weight Gain - genetics; Weight Gain - physiology
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.5.837

The current research was conducted to estimate the heritability coefficients and the genetic correlations for performance and carcass and body composition traits in a single sire broiler line. The performance traits analyzed were BW at 38 d, ultrasound records of pectoral muscle depth, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and BW at 42 d. The carcass traits analyzed were eviscerated BW, breast weight, and leg weight, and the body composition traits analyzed were abdominal fat content, heart weight, gizzard weight, liver weight, and intestine weight. The number of observations varied between 4,120 and 29,040 for each trait. The (co)variance components, heritability, and genetic correlation estimates were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood. The numerator relationship matrix had 42,912 animals. Based on the heritability estimates obtained, the analyzed traits seemed to be able to respond to selection, at variable intensities. The genetic correlation estimates between a great number of performance traits, as well as between a great number of carcass traits, were suggestive of a close genetic relationship between these traits. The genetic correlation estimates between body composition traits were variable. A large genetic association between a great number of performance and carcass traits seemed to exist. The genetic correlation estimates between performance and body composition traits were variable, and important associations between carcass and body composition traits did not seem to exist.