Relationship of body weight at sexual maturity with body weights at various ages in lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), unselected and selected for four-week body weight.

To evaluate the relationship between body weights at sexual maturity and at various ages in two lines of Japanese quail, unselected and selected for f our-week body weight for ten generation, body weights of female quails were measured at different days. Selection for increased 4-week body weight res ulted in changes in weights at various ages and increased the body weight a t sexual maturity. In two lines, correlations between body weights at vario us ages and body weight at sexual maturity, and regression of body weight a t various ages olt weight at the sexual maturity were generally positive an d significantly different from zero. Selection for increased 4-week body we ight in Japanese quail resulted ill, a delay in age at sexual maturity and body weights at sexual maturity were highly related to juvenile body weight s in both Japanese quail lines.