HERITABILITIES AND GENETIC CORRELATIONS OF CONFORMATION AND PLUMAGE CHARACTERISTICS IN PHEASANT (PHASIANUS-COLCHICUS)

Data were obtained from 588 pedigreed pheasants of an unselected popul ation. Body weight, shank length (SL), plumage measurements, and pluma ge score were analyzed to estimate heritabilities and genetic and phen otypic correlations. All measurements were made at 28 and 120 d of age . The h2 estimates (sire component) were the following: .27 and .30 fo r BW at 28 (BW28) and at 120 d (BW120), respectively;.34 and.79 for SL at 28 (SL28) and at 120 d (SL120), respectively; .30 and .13 for rect rices length (RL) at 28 (RL28) and at 120 d (RL120), respectively;.14 for primary remex at 28 d (PR);.21 for primary remex 1 at 28 d (PR1); .23 for secondary remiges length (SRL); .34 for body weight gain (BWG) ;.35 for shank length gain (SLG). Negative genetic correlations betwee n BW and SL with plumage traits at 120 d were found. The magnitude of heritability indicates that selection for BW is possible but the negat ive association with plumage traits must be carefully considered. The improvement of housing conditions could lead to birds with a well-deve loped plumage, because environment influenced variability of plumage t raits.