Effect of short-term divergent selection for 5-week body weight on growth characteristics of Japanese quail

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of short-term divergent selection for 5-week body weight on growth characteristics of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and to compare these characteristics with the non-selected randombred control base population. For this aim, Gompertz growth curve model was fitted to body weight-age data of quails in each group. Results of growth curve analyses showed that the shape of the growth curve was not affected by short-term selection. On the other hand, parameter estimates were significantly changed by short-term selection and sex of the quail (P < 0.05). The estimated parameter A or mature weights showed significantly higher values for females than for males in all groups (P < 0.05). The growth rate (K) in HBW and LBW groups (0.561 and 0.503) was significantly higher in males than in females. On the other hand, the K-parameter estimated for females (0.470) and males (0.464) in CONT group was fairly close to each other.