Genetic parameters for Oviposition time and interval in a white leghorn population of recent commercial origin

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Abstract
1. Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated for oviposition time and interval as well as for conventional measures of egg production in a White Leghorn population of recent commercial origin. Oviposition times were recorded under both a normal light‐dark cycle (NL) and continuous light regime (CL). 2. The heritabilities for oviposition interval, 0.54 in NL and 0.52 in CL, were much higher than those for egg number or rate of lay and the genetic correlation between intervals in the two lighting environments was 0.82, suggesting some interaction between genotype and lighting regimen. 3. The genetic correlations between mean oviposition interval in either environment and conventional measures of egg production were all high and negative and, together with the above heritability estimates, suggested a possible advantage of oviposition interval as a selection criterion for improvement of egg production. 4. In NL, mean and standard deviation of oviposition times showed moderate to high heritabilities and high genetic correlations with oviposition interval, as expected from their close physiological relations.