Genetic Parameters for Growth-Related Traits in Korean Native Chicken

Body and carcass weights are always being main focus in poultry industry. The aim of current study was to estimate the heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations of growth-related traits in Korean native chicken. A total of 596 chickens representing five lines of Korean native chicken (Black, Gray-Brown, Red-Brown, White, and Yellow-Brown) were reared under the standard breeding procedures in the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Korea. Their body weights were observed every two weeks from hatched to 20 weeks of age. In addition, shank length and carcass weight were also measured before and after slaughter, respectively. The ASReml-R program was used to compute genetic parameters. The body weight traits were moderate to high heritability values (ranged 0.29~0.63). The heritablilites of carcass weight ( h²=0.20 ) and shank length ( h²=0.20 ) were categorized as moderate. Moreover, both genetic and phenotypic correlations were ranged form 0.62 to 0.99 and ranged from 0.42 to 0.98, respectively. These findings can be useful information for quantitative genetic studies and breeding plan of Korean native chicken.