Genetic study on the performance of Dahlem red Layers

A study was undertaken on a total of 328 Dahlem Red birds belonging to full sib mated (45), half sib mated (64) and non-inbred groups (219). The overall least squares means of body weight at 4, 8, 20, and 40 weeks of age, age at sexual maturity, egg production up to 40 weeks of age and egg weight at 32 and 40 weeks of age were 146.88, 374.28, 1150.70 and 1678.57 g, 181.02 days, 71.06 eggs and 52.81 and 56.25 g, respectively. The mean performance of non-inbred group was in general, superior to inbred groups in all the traits studied. The estimates of heritability estimates obtained for the full sib, half sib and non-inbred groups were ranged from low to high. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among different traits were estimated.