Genetic parameters of organ and body weights in the Japanese quail.

Heritability values were estimated for the weights of various internal organs and correlations among the organ weights were calculated using 279 male and 305 female birds of Japanese quail. The organs measured were heart, lungs, liver, gizzard, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, gonads, oviduct, muscles, and bones; total body weight was also recorded. The heritabilities for these internal organs ranged from 78 percent for bones to 17 percent for intestines, and showed no marked differences between male and female groups. In total body and muscle weight, however, males had higher heritabilities than females; male birds had larger genetic variances of these traits than females. Total body weight and muscle weight were stronly correlated both phenotypically and genetically. Correlations among other organs were generally low.