Journal of Applied Animal Research
  • Year: 2007
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue: 2

Influence of selection for high humoral immunity on selected and unselected traits in black variety of turkey†

  • Author:
  • N.S. Singh1, Sanjeev Kumar2,
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 139 to 143

1Dept. of Animal Genetics & Breeding, College of Veterinary Science & A. H., NDUAT, Kumarganj, Faizabad-224 229, India.

2Molecular Genetics Laboratory Central Avian Research Institute Izatnagar-243 122, India.

*Correspondence to: E-mail: skgcari@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract

Direct and correlated changes were evaluated in the immunological traits (total, mercaptoethanol resistant (MER) and sensitive (MES) antibodies, serum lysozyme level and PHA-P response and body weights (0 to 24 weeks) in S1 generation of Black turkey variety, selected for higher immune response to sheep RBCs (SRBC). The selected line had comparatively higher (P>0.05) LS means for all immunological traits except for serum lysozyme level. Hatch effect was significant on MER antibody titre and serum lysozyme level only. Females had significantly higher titres of HA and MES (P<0.1) and lower response to PHA-P (P<0.05). Control line had comparatively higher body weights at 20 and 24 weeks of age. Realized h2 estimate as a response to selection was 0.499 indicating the effectiveness of selection.

Keywords

Turkey, humoral immunity, selection, immunological traits