GENETIC AND POSTHATCH PARENTAL INFLUENCES ON GROWTH IN PIGEON SQUABS

Four hundred fifty-six squabs from 72 pairs of Silver King x White King crosses were reared by either their genotypic parents or foster parents to study the effects of posthatch nest environment on squab growth. Posthatch parental performance in terms of feeding and caring for the young accounted for 6.28%, 10.27%, 5.72%, and 0.00% of the total variance in 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, and 28-day weight, respectively. Parental performance accounted for 8.41 %, 0.00%, 10.81%, and 8.39% of the total variance in 0-7-day, 8-14-day, 15-21-day, and 22-28-day gain periods, respectively. The combined weight of the two nest mates at 14 days maximizes the percentage of the posthatch component included in the total variance and thus can be taken as a measure of parental performance. Selection for increased egg production in one line and parental performance in another line so that squabs from the egg line can be fostered by the parental performance line is suggested as a breeding strategy to increase the annual rate of squab production.