A total of 3150 progenies covering nine generations (S1 to S9) at AICRP, Hyderabad were considered for the study. The heritability estimates in both the strains for AFE, egg weight, egg production at 28, 40, 64 weeks and body weights at different ages studied. The heritability value for AFE was found to be 0.07 ± 0.10 in IWD and -0.04 ± 0.07 in IWF strains. The heritability for EP 64 was 0.050 ± 0.10 in IWD and in IWF 0.04 ± 0.07. The heritability values for body weight at 64 weeks were 0.02 ± 0.07 in IWF and 0.112 ± 0.078 in IWD. The results of the study suggested that the heritability of egg weight varied widely among the strains but it was low to moderate indicates the additive genes as well as favorable environment facilitate the improvement in the trait.

Highlights

• Well conducted selection experiments are useful in testing the validity of modern selection theory.
• Egg production up to 64 weeks of age was found to be low to moderately heritable.
• The heritability of egg weight varied widely among the strains.