Canonical correlation analysis applied to production and reproduction traits of meat type quails/Analise de correlates canonicas aplicada em caracteristicas de producao e reproducao em codorna de corte

Data from 629 meat type quails were used to study association between two different sets of traits: egg production and reproduction. Traits related to reproduction were: body weight at 42 days (W42), average egg weight (AEW), age at sexual maturity (ASM); and production traits: number of eggs produced from 42 until 182th day considering intervals of 35 days each period (P1, P2, P3 and P4). Canonical correlations were used to describe the association between these two sets of traits. The canonical coefficients indicated that egg production and reproductive traits were moderately related (0.3475). The first partial period of production (P1) and age at sexual maturity were the most relevant traits among the analyzed variables. Results show that selecting animals with lower age at sexual maturity might lead to an increase on number of eggs produced until 77 days, although it might also lead to a decrease on egg weight. Breeding programs aiming to improve quails production should consider selection strategies to decrease age at sexual maturity and then, as correlated response, increased egg production might be observed. Key words: animal breeding, canonical pairs, Coturnix coturnix, egg production, multivariate analysis. Dados de 629 matrizes de codornas de corte foram utilizados para estudar a associacao entre caracteristicas de reproducao e producao de ovos. As caracteristicas analisadas foram: peso corporal aos 42 dias (W42), peso medio de ovos (AEW) e idade a maturidade sexual (ASM), que compos as caracteristicas reprodutivas; e numeros de ovos produzidos a partir do 42 dia, divididos em intervalos de 35 dias cada (P1, P2, P3 e P4), que integrou o grupo de caracteristicas de producao. Para analise de associacao, foi utilizada a analise de correlacao canonica entre os dois conjuntos de caracteristicas. Os coeficientes canonicos indicaram que os conjuntos de caracteristicas de producao de ovos e reprodutivas sao dependentes, correlacionando-se moderadamente (0,3475). Entre as variaveis avaliadas, o primeiro periodo parcial de producao de ovos e a idade a maturidade sexual foram as mais importantes. Os resultados indicam que a selecao para menor idade a maturidade sexual resultaria em aumento no numero de ovos produzidos ate 77 dias de idade, embora essa selecao possa resultar em diminuicao do peso de ovo. Conclui-se que a selecao de aves deve ser efetuada para menor maturidade sexual, pois, assim, estara selecionando tambem aves para maior producao de ovos. P