Selection Indices for genetic improvement of Japanese quail

Data on 432 progeny of 20 sires belong to brown strain (238) and white strain (200) of Japanese quails maintained at Instructional poultry farm of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar were utilized for the construction of conventional indices for genetic improvement of Japanese quail. Multi-trait selection indices were computed in order to achieve maximum improvement in aggregate genetic economic value. Combining information on age at sexual maturity, weight at sexual maturity, 1^st egg weight, egg weight at 12 weeks of age and egg production up to 12 weeks; twenty six selection indexes were constructed using pooled genetic and phenotypic parameters to find out an index of highest accuracy, which could result desirable gains. On the basis of r_IH values, the most efficient index was I₂₆ fallowed by I₂₅ and I₂₁. The index I₂₆ (“H = 2.3918, r_IH = 0.6480), which incorporate all five traits was found to be most efficient.