This book is very useful for the M.V.Sc. & Ph.D. students of Animal Genetics and Breeding discipline as well as Poultry Science discipline studying in veterinary colleges all over India and South East Asian countries. The information available in the book is very much useful for the veterinarians working in private poultry hatcheries all over India. This book deals with Zoological Classification of Birds, Growth of Poultry Industry in India, Poultry Statistics, Introduction to Molecular Biology, Principles of Genetics, Qualitative and Quantitative Traits in Poultry, Inheritance of Quantitative Characters, Sex Determination, Sex Linked, Sex Influenced & Sex Limited Traits, Economic Traits in Poultry, Values and Means, Average Effect, Breeding Values, Variance, Heritability, Repeatability, Correlation, Selection and Mating System and Use of Molecular Markers in Poultry Breeding. This book is useful for veterinary post-graduate students to face National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by Agricultural Scientists Recruitement Board (ASRB), veterinary graduates who are all pursuing competitive exams conducted by State Public Service Commissions and Biology/ Veterinary graduates preparing for Union Public Service Commission (IAS/IPS) exams.
Dr. R. Thiagarajan, M.V.Sc., Ph.D. Professor Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding Madras Veterinary College Vepery, Chennai-600 007
1. Zoological Classification of Birds .................................................. 1
2. Growth of Poultry Industry in India ............................................ 7
3. Poultry Statistics ............................................................................. 21
4. Introduction to Molecular Biology .............................................. 33
5. Principles of Genetics ..................................................................... 43
6. Qualitative and Quantitative Traits ............................................ 57
7. Inheritance of Quantitative Characters ..................................... 65
8. Sex Determination, Sex Linked, Sex Influenced and Sex Limited Traits ........................................................................... 75
9. Economic Traits in Poultry ........................................................... 79
10. Values and Means .......................................................................... 87
11. Average Effect................................................................................. 91
12. Breeding Values .............................................................................. 93
13. Variance ........................................................................................... 99
14. Heritability ..................................................................................... 101
15. Repeatability .................................................................................. 111
16. Correlation ..................................................................................... 115
17. Concept of Environment and Genotype Interaction ............. 119
18. Selection ......................................................................................... 121
19. Aids to Selection ........................................................................... 129
20. Methods of Selection (Multi-Trait Selection) ........................... 137
21. Response to Selection/Genetic Gain ......................................... 149
22. Selection Limit (or) Selection Plateau (or) Selection Ceiling ....................... 157
23. Correlated Response to Selection .............................................. 159
24. Genotype Environment Correlation and Interaction ............ 167
25. Breeding/Mating System ............................................................ 171
26. Inbreeding ...................................................................................... 175
27. Outbreeding Systems ................................................................... 197
28. Control Populations ..................................................................... 207
29. Artificial Insemination in Poultry.............................................. 211
30. Sex Determination........................................................................ 217
31. Use of Molecular Genetics in Poultry Breeding ...................... 223