Divergent selection for body weight and yolk precursor in Coturnix coturnix japonica. 5. Correlated responses in adult body weight, liver weight, ovarian follicle production, and carcass composition of laying hens.

Laying female quail of five strains (R-1, randombred control; HP and LP, high or low concentration of egg yolk very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) precursor in laying females: HW and LW, high or low 4-week body weight) were sampled after 120 days of egg production for body weight, liver weight, ovarian follicle production, and carcass composition. Body weight change during the reproductive period was associated with starting body weight, but not with yolk VLDL precursor (total plasma phosphorus). Egg production was slightly depressed in both the HW and HP strains. Liver weight was associated with body weight. Percent dry matter of liver was not different between strains. Liver as a percentage of body weight was slightly greater in the HP strain. Egg and yolk weights were associated with body weight but not with concentration of yolk VLDL precursor. Ovarian follicle number and weight were also influenced by body weight but not by concentration of yolk VLDL precursor. Carcass composition was influenced by body weight. The larger HW strain contained more fat and less protein than the smaller LW strain after 120 days of egg production.