The influence of crossing two distinct forms of Japanese quail on reproductive and immunological traits.

A crossbreeding experiment was carried out using two selected lines of Japanese quail, (Brown line and white line) (BB&WW (lines were established for egg and meat production). A total number of 2450 crossbred birds of quail produced from four mating groups (two groups of pure birds and another two groups of cross lines) among three hatches were used for the present study to estimate direct heterosis, direct additive and maternal effects on the following traits of egg production and reproductive traits: i.e., Egg Weight(EW), Age Sexual Maturity(ASM), Body Weight Sexual Maturity(BWSM), Total Egg Number at first ten week (TEN10), Total Egg Weight at first ten week (TEW10), Daily Egg Mass at first ten week(DEM), Fertility percentage( FER%) and Hatchability percentage (HA %). The results can be summarized as follow: Crossing sires of BB with WW dams have the highest egg production and reproductive traits except of ASM. However, significant differences due to effect mating groups (MG) on egg production and reproductive traits were observed. Estimation of direct heterosis calculated in units (g) and percentages (%) of egg production and reproductive traits studied are presented in (Table, 2). However, these traits showed highly significant (P≤0.01 or P≤0.001) positive direct heterosis estimated as:7.8, 30.1, 6.1 for TEN10, and DEM10, while EW, ASM, BWSM, FER% and HAT% showed highly significant (P≤0.01 or P≤0.001) negative direct heterosis estimated as: -10.2, -9.6, -14.6, -4.9 and -5.5, respectively.