Phenotypic and genetic variability for body weight of ostriches (Struthio camelus)

Abstract

1. objective of the present study was to estimate heritability for hatch weight (HW), body weight at 90 (W90) and 180 (W180) d of age in Brazilian ostriches.2. The heritability estimates were obtained through the restricted maximum likelihood method for an animal model. Least squares method was used to define possible fixed effects for consideration in the analysis model.3. The estimates of heritability were 0.42 +/- 0.05, 0.16 +/- 0.04 and 0.24 +/- 0.08 for HW, W90 and W180, respectively.4. Heritability estimates showed that there are sufficient levels of additive genetic variation present in the traits studied, and these traits may respond to selection.