GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC CORRELATIONS BETWEEN GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN MEAT-TYPE PIGEONS

Phenotypic and genetic correlations of quantitative traits mere estima ted in an auto sexing meat-type pigeon population. The pigeons mere ke pt in pairs in a specially designed three tier cage system, in a windo wless environmentally controlled house at a constant 12 hour light per iod throughout the year For the estimation of correlations related to bodyweight at different ages, data of 220 sire-son and dun-daughter pa irs were used. In the estimation of correlations related to production traits the data of 321 dam-daughter pairs mere analysed. The phenotyp ic (r(P)) and genetic (r(G)) correlations between the traits studied w ere: 28 days body weight - adult body weight in males r(P): 0.88, r(G) : 0.57, in females r(P): 0.77, r(G): 0.62, number of eggs produced per year - body weight at 28 days of age r(P): -0.04, r(G): -0.54, hatcha bility - number of eggs produced per year r(P): 0.11, r(G): 0.02, hatc hability - number of squabs hatched per year r(P): 0.78, r(G): 0.17, h atchability - total weight of squabs produced per year r(P): 0.74, r(G ): 0.17.