The changes in body temperature,oxygen consumption,CO2 production and muscle protein turnover rate by selection for body size in Japanese quail,Coturnix coturnix japonica

• 1.1. Body temperature, oxygen consumption, CO₂ production and muscle protein degradation rate were measured in the three quail lines selected for body size, a random bred line (RR) and two lines selected for large (LL) or small (SS) body size.
• 2.2. The body temperature at 15 weeks of age was highest for small body size line and lowest for large body size line.
• 3.3. The body temperature, oxygen consumption and CO₂ production of females were significantly higher than that of males.
• 4.4. The fractional degradation rate of muscle protein of SS, RR and LL lines were measured as 2.4, 1.6 and 1.2% per day in male, and 2.6, 1.7 and 1.4% per day in female.