PHENOTYPIC CORRELATION BETWEEN BODY WEIGHT AND LINEAR BODY MEASUREMENTS OF JAPANESE QUAILS

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the phenotypic correlation between body weight and linear body measurements of Japanese quails. Thirty-six (36) matured Japanese quails comprising 30 hens, and 6 cocks were used as the base population of the study. The birds were assigned to 6 pens at a mating ratio of 5:1. The progenies (250) were raised to sexual maturity and body weight and linear body measurements were taken on weekly basis and were recorded. Data collected on the body weight and linear body measurements (body length, breast girth, shank length and wing length) were analyzed using One-way Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) of the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) software. A high positive phenotypic correlation (r=0.858–0.951) was observed between body weight and linear body measurements with the highest correlation (r=0.951) between breast girth and wing length. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that body weight of Japanese quails had high positive relationships with body length, breast girth, shank length and wing length of the Japanese quails used in the study.