Abstract: The aim was to evaluate the performance, blood lipid profile, and the relative expression
of growth-related genes in purebred white and brown quail lines and their crossbred lines. A total
of 240 one-day-old Japanese quail chicks of white and brown line, their crossbred line (WBQ: male
white × female brown), and reciprocal crossbred line (BWQ: male brown × female white) were
divided into four equal groups (60 birds each). The white quail line showed significantly higher final
body weight, daily gain, and feed intake compared with the other quail lines (p < 0.001). Meanwhile,
both crossbred quail lines (WBQ and BWQ) showed significantly lower FCR compared with both
purebred quail lines (p = 0.001). Both crossbred quail lines showed greater dressing percentages
compared with both purebred quail lines (p = 0.038). The brown quail line showed significantly
(p = 0.05) higher levels of serum triglycerides and VLDL compared with the white and BWQ lines.
The WBQ crossbred line exhibited significantly higher mRNA expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes
compared with other quail lines (p < 0.001). Both crossbred lines (WBQ and BWQ) exhibited negative
heterosis percentages for body weight (−4.39 and −3.90%, respectively) and feed intake (−10.87 and
−14.59%, respectively). Meanwhile, heterosis percentages for FCR (−6.46 and −9.25%, respectively)
and dressing percentage (7.54 and 6.38%, respectively) were improved in both crossbred lines. The
WBQ line showed high heterosis percentages for the expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes (52.28 and
88.81%, respectively). In conclusion, the WBQ line exhibited significantly greater dressing percentage and better FCR, as well as higher mRNA expression of GHR and IGF-1 genes. These results may be
helpful to improve breeding programs and to develop commercial lines of meat-type Japanese quail.
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