Abstract
A feeder for measuring quail feed intake was designed, and the genetic parameters of feed efficiency in Japanese quail between four and six weeks old was analyzed. The results can be summarized as follows. 1) Using a paper cup feeder, accurate individual feed intake could be measured. 2) Feed conversion ratios from one to four weeks of age and from four to six weeks of age were calculated as 3.54 and. 7.7-9.3, respectively. 3) The heritabilities (h2s+D) of feed intake and feed conversion ratio from four to six weeks of age were estimated as O.56-0.63 and O.42-0.18, respectively. 4) Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between feed intake and other traits between four and six weeks of age were calculated as follows: feed conversion ratio and gain (rP=-0.96, rG=-0.82).feed conversion ratio and feed intake (rP=-0.22, rG=0.50), feed conversion ratio and four week body Weight (rP=0.37, rG=0.61) and feed conversion ratio and six week body weight (rP=-0.22, rG=0.32).
