On the Inheritance of Egg Weight

IT IS generally agreed that egg weight is a quantitative trait that depends upon several undetermined genes. Hays (1940, 1941) and Roberts et al. (1952) suggested that the genes affecting egg weight are autosomal, indicating that genes for egg weight are transmitted equally by sires and dams. On the other hand, Lerner and Cruden (1951) and Osborne (1953) found evidence of sex linked genes involved. Hall (1939) stated that no consistant breed differences were found in the eggs and their components of White Wyandottes, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns. He found, however, significant differences in shell weight and percentage between breeds studied Hutt (1949) postulated breed differences in shell thickness. Taylor and Lerner (1939) suggested that the percentage and thickness of shell are controlled by heritable factors, and that dams have more influence than sires in determining shell characters of the daughters. Studying the inheritance of…