Markova O. Genetic analysis of reproductive parameters of the budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Object of research: heredity of budgerigars. Research objective: to study the genetic basis of reproductive parameters of the budgerigars and to develop a genetically based system of selection and matching of birds, providing high fecundity and productivity of breeding birds. Research methods: crosses, component, variance and correlation analysis.Results, novelty: The inheritance of reproductive parameters of the budgerigars: clutch size, rate of the egg fertilization, egg hatchability, quantity of the hatchlings, quantity of the fledglings and survival rate of the hatchlings, - has been investigated. It has been established that environmental variance is more thаn genotypic variance for all parameters. The highest heritability coefficients in narrow sense have been observed for average clutch size from data of females (h2=0,328-0,440) and survival rate of the hatchlings from data of males (h2=0,466). It has been set, that there is predominance of males above females on the average in 1,18 times in the first clutch of the nest season. It has been shown, that use of the greywing, cinnamon and spangle birds for reproduction does not change significantly quantity of the fledglings. Three variants of the autosexing couples have been found. Use sphere: genetic studies of the altricial birds, decorative poultry.