Genetic parameters of performance traits in synthetic White Leghorn strain

Data collected from records (2015-16 to 2019-20) of White Leghorn strain maintained at the poultry farms were analysed to estimate genetic parameters of performance traits of white leghorn strain. Pooled heritability estimates for body weight 20 week (BW₂₀), body weight at 40 week of age (BW₄₀), age at first egg in days (AFE), egg production at 40 weeks of age (EN₄₀), egg weight (g) at 40 weeks of age (EW₄₀), egg mass up to 40 weeks of age (EM₄₀), fertility, hatchability on total egg set (HTES0 and fertile egg set (HFES) of pullets in different generations were 0.26±0.10, 0.28±0.09, 0.20±0.07, 0.28±0.09, 0.19±0.09, 0.23±0.08, 0.28±0.13, 0.26±0.10 and 0.27±0.11, respectively. Genetic correlation between EN₄₀ and EM₄₀ was highest, whereas, phenotypic correlation was highest between EW₄₀ and EM₄₀. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of BW₂₀ with BW₄₀ were significant and high in magnitude 0.67±0.18 and 0.32±0.02, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of AFE were negative with all performance traits except phenotypic correlation of EW₄₀ was positive (0.03±0.02). Moderate to low estimates of heritability for various performance traits indicated that enough scope exists for the improvement of these traits through family selection.