Genetic parameters and variance components for juvenile growth parameters in Dahlem Red chicken using REML -Animal model

Pragnya,, C. , Sreenivas, D., Sakaram, D., Hari krishna, C., and Rajkumar, U. 2025. Genetic parameters and variance components for juvenile growth parameters in Dahlem Red chicken using REML -Animal model. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 60(1): 1-5. This study aimed at estimation of variance, covariance components and genetic parameters influencing growth traits of Dahlem Red chicken at ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad. The recent three generations data were used for estimation of genetic factors using REML animal model and assessing variance components. At 4 and 6 weeks of age, juvenile body weight (BW) and shank length (SL) were significantly impacted (P=0.01) by both generation and hatch. At 4 weeks of age mean BW was 179.49±0.52, and at 6 weeks, it was 321.31±0.83g. At 4 and 6 weeks of age, mean SLs were 45.12±0.05 and 56.65±0.06 mm, respectively. Maternal effects were observed on juvenile growth traits. Model 4, which incorporated additive, maternal permanent environmental, and residual effects provided the best fit for BW6 and SL6. Heritability estimates derived from the optimal model were 0.31±0.05 (BW4), 0.27±0.03 (BW6), 0.32±0.05 (SL4) and 0.27±0.03 (SL6). Correlation among the juvenile bodyweights was positive in direction and high in magnitude. The juvenile BW showed a significant corelation of high magnitude and positive direction. At different ages, a desirable positive relationship among juvenile traits was noted. The study concluded that the population harbours optimum variability with reasonable heritability estimates for growth traits.