Repeatability of egg quality traits in the coturnix quail. Poultry Science 44

cussed and evaluated the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, as a pilot ani-mal for research. Jaap (1964) indicated that the Coturnix, due to its tremendous reproductive potential, may take the place of the chicken for research in poultry genet-ics. Marks and Kinney (1964) reported heritability estimates for various reproduc-tive traits in the quail. In addition, these authors pointed out that if the quail is to be used as a pilot animal for genetic studies, information regarding the similari-ty of the genetic parameters of quail with those of domestic fowl should be useful. Jones et al. (1964) discussed the prob-lems involved in identification of eggs from different females. The authors reported that the eggs produced by an individual were of similar size, shape, and color. The similarity was sufficiently great that by se-lecting the females on the basis of external egg traits, it was possible to distinguish mixed clutches of Coturnix eggs with a high degree of accuracy. Observations of quail eggs at Southern Illinois University indicated uniformity in egg quality traits. This study was conduc-ted in order to determine the repeatability of egg quality traits in the quail and to compare with estimates from chickens. In addition, these estimates would enable one to determine the number of measurments necessary to give a reliable estimate of the genetic potential of each individual for the various egg quality traits. Coturnix females were kept in individual cages and eggs were identified by cage TABLE 1.—The number of dams, number of eggs, average, standard deviation and repeatability estimates of egg quality traits Trait No. dam