Genetic studies of juvenile traits in Vanaraja male line

Genetic parameters for body weight (BW) at day old (0), 2,4,6 weeks and shank length (SL) at 6 weeks of age were estimated in a population of 2989 full sib progenies of Vanaraja male line. Pooled least square means for BW at 0 day, 2, 4 and 6 weeks and SL at 6 weeks of age were 38.74±0.001, 133.32±0.006, 316.72±0.02 and 565.67±0.03 g and 70.85±0.002 mm, respectively. The heritability estimates for all the traits are low in magnitude irrespective of variance component of estimation. Genetic correlation from S+D component of variance and co variance were positive and moderate to high in magnitude for BW0 with other traits. Genetic correlation between BW4 and BW6 was positive and high in magnitude, irrespective of variance component used for the estimation. Correlation between SL and BW 4 and BW6 were positive and high in magnitude. The high correlation co-efficient of BW6 with SL suggest that selection for SL may simultaneously improve the six weeks body weight in the pure line.