Allometric growth of body components in 11 generations selected Japanese quails of different lines

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of divergent selection on allometric growth parameters between the body components in 11 generations selected Japanese quails from different lines by using simple monophasic function. The birds were obtained from four genetic lines selected for 11 generations for either high (HL) or low body weight (LL) at a- five weeks of age, a randomly bred control line (C) and a layer line (L) selected for egg production over 120 days. The weekly left and right sides of thigh, back, carcass and breast of quails were collected from five weeks of age to eight weeks of age The results showed that allometric relationship was found between weights of the total thigh and that of the whole body. There was also found an isometric growth between body weight and carcass weight. The growth occurred faster in left side with regard to thigh growth and in right side in terms of wing growth. It may also be concluded that divergent selection significantly affected left and right sides of body growing, and plays an important role in the occurrence of asymmetry in quails. © Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart.