Genetic parameters of body weight and prolificacy in pigeons

Genetic parameters of body weight at weaning and of prolificacy were estima ted in three commercial lines of pigeons selected by BLUP (Best Linear Unbi ased Prediction) on both traits. The model of analysis took into account th e direct, genetic effects for both traits and the effect of parental perman ent environment for body weight. Depending on the line considered, body wei ght varied from 556.7 g to 647.6 g and prolificacy ranged from 12.5 to 16.8 pigeons weaned per couple of parents per year. Heritability of body weight was high, varying between 0.46 and 0.60, and permanent environment was res ponsible for 6% to 9% of the total variability. On the contrary, prolificac y was poorly heritable (0.04 to 0.12). They were highly and negatively corr elated (-0.77 to -0.82). Body weight showed significant genetic trends in l ines B and C. No significant genetic difference could be observed between m ales and females for both traits.