Estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters of some important economic traits in Khazak native hen in Iran

Abstract

Summary: The purpose of this study was the estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters of important economic traits in Khazak native hens in Iran. The registered records of 7 434 Khazak native chickens containing 5 238 hens and 2 196 cocks in the research centre of Zabol University from 2007 to 2011 were used. The results of this study were compared with the results of studies on other native chickens breeding in Iran (Yazd: 4198, Mazandaran: 49 536, Esfahan: 23 108, West Azarbaijan: 24 890 and Fars: 30 279). Genotypic and phenotypic correlations between traits and heritability of traits were evaluated by univariate and bivariate animal models using ASREML software. The quantity of some traits such as the average egg production, weight of eggs produced, fertility, hatchability, age of sexual maturity and broodiness were a month 120, 45.15 g, 65.25 percent, 74.83 percent, 5.54 and 1.90, respectively. The heritability of sexual maturity age, the number of eggs produced and egg weight were 0.22 ± 0.41, 0.16 ± 0.13 and 0.50, respectively. The genetic correlation between the age of sexual maturity and the number of eggs produced were 0.95 ± 0.02 and 0.29 ± 0.07, respectively. The results of the study showed that decreasing the sexual age of maturity will lead to an increase in the number of eggs produced. The results of variance analysis showed that some factors such as hen age, broodiness (P< 0.01) and the weight of hens have a significant effect on hatchability.