Quantifying genetic (co)variation and effects of genetic selection on tibial bone morphology and quality in 37 lines of broiler, layer and traditional chickens

1. Tibial bone morphology and quality was assessed at 6, 8 and 10 weeks of age in 12 broiler, 12 layer and 13 traditional lines of chickens. 2. High intraclass correlations (0.65-0.96) were estimated for tibial weight, length, width, strength, stiffness, stress radiodensity, plateau angle but not for cortical width and tibial torsion at 6 and 10 weeks of age and for weight, length, width, strength radiodensity and plateau angle at 8 weeks of...