Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Production and Reproduction Traits of Iranian Native Chickens using Bayesian Method Via Gibbs Sampling

The variance components and genetic parameters of body weight at 8 weeks of age, ageat sexual maturity, egg weight and egg number of native fowls for three provinces: Mazandaran (1991 to 2010), Isfahan (1995 to 2011) and Yazd (2001 to 2010) were estimated based on data collected by the provincial native fowls breeding centers. Genetic parameters were estimated by six different animal models with Bayesian method based on Gibbs sampling technique using GIBBS3F90 software. For the test of significance of models, the Deviance information criteria were used. Fitting of additive genetic effect without considering maternal effects resulted in overestimation of direct heritability. Results showed that considerable part of phenotypic variance was attributed to maternal additive genetic effects. Estimated heritability for average egg weight, body weight at 8 weeks old, egg number and age at sexual maturity according to the appropriate model were 0.54, 0.23, 0.15 and 0.41 for Mazandaran center and 0.31, 0.12, 0.10 and 0.28 for Esfahan center and 0.33, 0.13, 0.16 and 0.19 for Yazd center, respectively.