M.S.

A genetic selection study to determine the effects on egg hatchability and subsequent chick performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs incubated at 100 F dry bulb temperature (Control, Line C) when compared to other eggs incubated at 102 F (Selected, Line S) was conducted over 10 consecutive generations. Eggs from a randomly mated population (designated as Generation 0) of Japanese quail maintained at the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station were randomly allocated to two treatment groups (Lines C and S) and incubated at the different temperatures in separate but identical Jamesway 252 machines. On day 14 of incubation all eggs were transferred to a common hatcher (98.5 F). Using family-based selection, the chicks that hatched from the two lines were subsequently used as breeders (25 paired matings per line) and the resulting eggs from each line incubated at their respective temperatures for 10 consecutive generations. Following the 10th generation percent egg fertility and percent hatch of fertile eggs were greater in Line C vs. Line S (p<O.O3 and p<O.0001, respectively). Embryo development time was shortened in Line S by 24 hours and mean 4- or 5- week body weights were greater (p<0.001) in Line S. Ten-day post-hatch mortality increased greatly in Line S vs. Line C after generation 6 (p<0.001) and hen-day egg production decreased after generation 4 in Line S vs. Line C (p<0.0001). The results indicate that embryo development time can be reduced by high temperature incubation, but at the expense of reproductive traits such as egg production, fertility, and hatchability of fertile eggs. / Graduation date: 2005