Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for egg production traits in indigenous fowl of the Sudan

Abstract

243 pullets the progeny of 40 sires and 120 dams were used in this 
experiment. Data were analysed using Harvey Program (1990) to estimate 
the genetic and phenotypic parameters for production traits which included 
age at sexual maturity (AS), body weight at sexual maturity (BW), egg 
production (EPT) and egg weight (EWT) for the whole period (180 days). 
The average AS, BW, EPT and EWT were 180.5 days, 998.8g., 3.00 
egg/hen housed/week and 34.0g. respectively. Heritability estimates from 
sire component of variance were 0.081 for AS, 0.443 for BW and 0.397 for 
EPT. Heritability estimate from sire plus dam component of variance for 
EWT was 0.601. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among the traits 
studied were variable. The genetic correlation of BW with EPT from sire 
component of variance was high and positive (0.53). The genetic correlation of 
BW with EPT from dam component of variance was low and 
negative (- 0.167), whereas the genetic correlation of BW with EWT was 
high and positive (0.348). The phenotypic correlations seem to follow 
similar trend as genetic correlations.