Analysis of censored survival data in Japanese quail divergently selected for growth and their control

Poultry Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2772, USA. saggrey@arches.uga.edu

The aim of the current study was to characterize and quantify risk factors involved in juvenile mortality in divergently selected and control lines of Japanese quail. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to describe mortality in the three experimental lines with hatch weight and posthatch BW evaluated as risk factors. Survival function distribution indicated that the proportional mortality was highest in the line selected for high 4-wk BW compared to the low and control lines. In all the experimental lines mortality declined when posthatch BW increased; however, the magnitude of reduction was highest in the control line compared to the divergently selected lines (57 vs. 22%). Any factor that influences growth after hatching may likely have a direct impact on mortality. Lack of accessibility to water, feed, warmth, and potential negative social interaction are factors that could affect mortality immediately after hatch. The posthatch BW at time of mortality used as a risk factor indicated that the divergently selected lines have about the same risk and are less sensitive to reduced BW compared to the control population. Through survival analysis, the present study has demonstrated that factors causing reduction in posthatch BW are likely risk factors for mortality in growing birds.