Avaliação do uso de períodos parciais de produção de ovos como critério de seleção em codornas de corte

The objective of this study to estimate genetic parameters for the partial periods and the total period of egg production through multicaracteríticas analysis in order to verify the possibility of using partial periods of production, replacing the entire period as selection criteria. The data evaluated were obtained from a genetic group of quails, comprising 816 females UFV1. The characteristics analyzed were partial periods of egg production to 24 (P24), 32 th (P32), 40th (P40) and 48th (P48) weeks and total production (P52) from 6th to 52nd week. The (co) variance and genetic parameters were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method, using an animal model for the production multicaracterístico partial and total, through the Wombat software (Meyer, 2007). Estimates of heritability for egg production were 0.072 for the period of total production and 0.092, 0.096, 0.094 and 0.085 for periods of partial production P24, P32, P40 and P48. Estimates of genetic correlations were found for higher: P52 P40x (0.996) and P48 x 52 (.999). As for the other partial periods P24 and P32 x 52 x 52 genetic correlation values were 0.798 and 0.892. It is recommended for the genetic group UFV1, the selection of quails considering the production of eggs until the 40th week of life which would allow a reduction in generation interval and greater genetic gain per unit time.