Linkage analysis of microsatellite markers on chromosome 5 in an F2 population of Japanese quail to identify quantitative trait loci affecting carcass traits

An F2 Japanese quail population was developed by crossing two strains (wild and white) to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for performance and carcass traits. A total of 472 F2 birds were reared and slaughtered at 42 days of age. Performance and carcass traits were measured on all of the F2 individuals. Parental (P0), F1 and F2 individuals were genotyped with 3 microsatellites from quail chromosome 5. Based on five quantitative genetic models analyzed, QTL affecting carcass efficiency, breast percentage, femur percentage, back weight and back percentage, head weight, gizzard weight, uropygial weight, liver weight and liver percentage and neck percentage were mapped. The results provided an important framework for further genetic mapping and the identification of quantitative trait loci controlling performance carcass traits in the Japanese quail.