Estimation of genetic parameters of growth and egg production traits by animal model in IWK layer strain.

Indian White Leghorn strain-IWK has been improved for higher egg weight as well as number over last twelve generations at ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad. The data collected on various economic traits of egg production were analyzed using REML approach of animal model. Current study showed that the heritability estimate of body weight, age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg numbers and egg weight was moderate to high, low to moderate, low and high, respectively. The body weight was positively correlated with egg weight but negatively correlated with egg numbers. The body weight at 16 and 20 weeks were negatively correlated with ASM and were very important for achieving early ASM. ASM was negatively correlated with egg numbers. The egg weight regressed as the egg number increased. The part period egg production EP52 was highly correlated with EP64; therefore EP52 can be used for selecting parents for higher egg number instead of EP64. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]