Growth genetic trajectories of two quail meat type lines for body weights at hatch and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age were evaluated using random regression model, under animal model analysis. Genetic parameters estimates were obtained to establish the most adequate age for efficient selection. Body weights of 2,432 and 2,478 quails from EV1 and EV2 genetic lines, respectively, from three generations of selection were recorded. Genetic parameter estimates were obtained using Dxmrr subroutine of the DFReml software. Heritability estimates ranged from .01 to .50 for EV1 and from .01 to .10 for EV2. For both genetic lines the highest heritability estimates were obtained for body weight at 42 days of age and genetic correlations between body weight at hatch and body weights recorded in other ages were all negatives and permanent environment correlations were higher for EV2 genetic line. The results suggest that selection to increase body weight for both genetic lines is more efficient when undertaken at 42 days of age, but reasonable responses to selection can also be obtained in younger ages for EV1 genetic line.
Meat type quail; genetic trajectory; heritability; genetic correlation; rank correlation
