ABSTRACT
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of age and egg size of Japanese
quail hens on hatchability and effect of chick size and protein level on post hatch
performance of quail chicks. In the first experiment, the relationship between age with
egg size, egg number, hen day production and the subsequent effect of age and egg size
on hatchability were determined. Eggs were collected on daily basis for a period of 12
weeks from a total of 211 Japanese quail hens and were marked, weighed with a sensitive
electronic scale and sorted into three egg size categories on the basis of small (<9g),
medium (9-10g) and large (>10g) to determine the effect of age on egg size, egg number
of various sizes and hen day production. Fertile eggs were further collected within the
last week of each month when Japanese quail hens were 9, 13, and 17 weeks old to
determine the effect of age and egg size on hatchability of the three categories of egg
sizes. It was observed that age had significant (P<0.05) effects on average egg size, egg
number of various sizes and hen day production. There were significant differences
(P<0.05) in percent fertility, percent hatch, percent dead in shell, percent infertile eggs,
chick weight and percent survival. The differences observed for percent hatchability were
not statistically (P> 0.05) significant, however mean percent hatchability of 69.58% was
obtained for medium sized eggs with similar values of 65.95% and 65.74% for large and
small sized eggs at the ages of 9, 13 and 17 weeks, respectively. In Experiment 2, the
effect of chick size and dietary protein on post hatch performance of Japanese quails was
studied. A total of 415 day old unsexed Japanese quail chicks were used for the six weeks
growth phase in a completely randomized design of 3 x 3 factorial arrangements. At
hatch, quail chicks were grouped according to the various egg sizes of small, medium and
large. Chicks from a particular egg weight range constituted a treatment and each
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treatment placed on three different dietary protein levels. Birds were assigned into 9
treatment combinations with an average of 45 quail chicks per treatment combination for
small, medium, and large sized chicks, respectively. It was observed that, the effect of
chick size and dietary protein level had significant (P<0.05) effect on the post hatch
performance of quail chicks. From this study, the age of Japanese quails had significant
(P<0.05) effect on egg size, age and egg size subsequently affected percent fertility and
hatchability. The final live weights and average daily weight gains were enhanced by the
interaction effect of chick size and protein level mostly favouring the large sized chicks
and dietary protein level of 28%, while the best feed conversion ratio and cost per gain
were obtained in small sized chicks and dietary protein level of 24%. The result of
carcass characteristics were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by chick size and protein
level except for the carcass weight and gizzard that were affected by chick size and liver
affected by protein level. A positive correlation exists between egg size and chick
hatching weight with subsequent effect on post hatch performance of Japanese quails
which were influenced by dietary protein levels.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page…………………………………………………………………………………… i
Title page………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
Declaration…………………………………………………………………………………… iii
Copyright statement………………………………………………………………………….. iv
Certification………………………………………………………………………………….. v
Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………. vi
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………… vii
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………. ix
Table of content……………………………………………………………………………… xi
List of tables…………………………………………………………………………………. xv
List of figures………………………………………………………………………………… xvi
List of appendices…………………………………………………………………………… xvii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………..1…
1.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………………………………………3
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………………………4
2.1 Age effects on egg of laying birds………………………………………………………….4….
2.2 Fertility………………………………………………………………………………………5 .
2.3. Factors affecting fertility……………………………………………………………………..6…
2.3.1 Mating ratio…………………………………….…………………………………………6……
2.3.2 Age of birds …………………………………………………………………………………7 …………..
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2.3.3 Light ………………………………………………….……….…………………………………………
2.4 Hatchability………………………………………………………………………………….
2.5 Factors affecting hatchability…………………………………………………………………
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2.5.1 Nutrition …………………………………………….. ……………………………………8……………
2.5.2 Temperature……………………………………….………………………………………9……
2.5.3 Storage period……………………………………..………………………………………9……………
2.5.4 Strain………………………………………………………………………..………………1…0 …………
2.6 Factors affecting egg production…………………. ………………………………………1..0.
2.6.1 Temperature and Humidity…………………………………………………………………1.0..
2.6.2 Nutrition……………………………………………………………………………………11
2.6.3 Body weight…………..……………………………………………………………………1.1..
2.7 Effect of egg weight on post-hatch growth…..………………………………………………12
2.8 Effect of dietary protein on post-hatch growth………………………………………… 13
2.9 Effect of dietary protein levels on growth parameters of Japanese quails…………………1.3.
2.10 Nutrient requirements of Japanese quails……………………………………………………15.
2.10.1 Protein………………………………………………………………………………………15.
2.10.2 Energy………………………………………………………. ……………………………15..
2.10.3 Vitamins……..……………………………………………………………………………1.6..
2.10.4 Minerals……………………………………………………………………………………1..7.
2.10.5 Water………………………………………………………………………………………1.8..
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD…………………………………………………………………………….1..9.
3.1 Experimental site……………………………………………………………………………1..9.
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3.2 Source of Experimental birds………………………………………………………………19.
3.3 Statistical Analysis…………………………………………………………………………19
3.4. Experiment 1: Effects of Age and Egg size on hatchability…………………………………
3.4.1 Experimental design…………………….…………………………………………………..
3.4.2 Experimental Diet for Experiment 1……………….………………………………………
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3.4.3 Management of Experimental birds and data collection…………………………………21
3.5 Experiment 2: Relationship Between Chick size, Dietary Protein and Post-Hatch
Growth in Japanese Quails…………………………………………………………………25.
3.5.1 Experimental Design………………………………………………………………………2.5..
3.5.2 Experimental Diet for Experiment 2………………………………………………………2.6.
3.5.3 Management of Experimental birds and Data collection…… ……………………………2.6..
3.6. Carcass Evaluation…………………………………………………………………………29..
3.7 Pictures of Japanese quails and Hatchery operations………………………………………30.
Plate i – Japanese quail hens and laying process……………………………………………30.
Plate ii – Classification of eggs into three sizes: small, medium and large………………3…1
Plate iii –Hatchery process………………………………….………………………………32
Plate iv – Classification of chicks into Large, medium and small…………………..………33
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………………3..4.
4.1 Effects of Age of Japanese quail hens on egg size……………………………………………34.
4.2 Effect of Age on Egg number and Hen Day Production………………………………………41
4.3 Effects of Age and Egg size on Pre-hatch Performance of Japanese quails……. ………… 43
4.4 Effect of Chick size and Protein level on Post-hatch performance of Japanese quails………5.1.
CHAPTER FIVE
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5.0 DISCUSSION………………………………………………………………………………64.
5.1 Effects of Age of Japanese quail hens on egg size……………………………………………64.
5.2 Effect of Age on Egg number and Hen Day Production………………………………………65
5.3 Effects of Age and Egg size on Pre-hatch Performance of Japanese quails……. ………… 67
5.4 Effect of Chick size and Protein level on Post-hatch Performance of Japanese Quails……….
CHAPTER SIX
6.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION………………………………
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6.1 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………79.
6.2 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………80
6.3 Recommendation…………………………………………………………….……. ……………8..0.
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………81
APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………………………… 90
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Commercialization of quail bird production is a recent development in Nigeria.
Emphasis has been on other poultry birds, whereas nutritive and economic benefits can
also be derived from quail production since the quail is fast growing and resistant to more
diseases than the domestic fowl (Oluyemi and Roberts, 2000). The Japanese quail
(Coturnix coturnix japonica) has the potential to serve as an excellent and cheap source
of animal protein for Nigerians (Cooper,1989). According to NRC (1991), quails are
precocious and can lay eggs at six weeks old and twenty of them are sufficient to keep an
average family on eggs all year round. Other unique characteristics and advantages of
the quail over other species of poultry include early attainment of sexual maturity, short
generation interval (Robbins, 1981), attaining market weight of 150 – 180grams between
5 – 6 weeks of age and a high rate of egg production of between 180 – 250 eggs per year
(Shwartz and Allen, 1981;Garwood and Diehl, 1987). Additionally, quails require less
floor space compared to other poultry birds, about 8 -10 adult quails can be reared in a
space meant for one adult chicken ( Haruna et al., 1997). They have less feed
requirement and require 20 – 25g of feed per day. Quail meat and egg are of high quality
protein with low cholesterol content thereby making it a choice product for hypertensionprone
individuals (Haruna et al., 1997 and Olubamiwa et al., 1999).
Little is known about the factors that affect the fertility and hatchability of quail eggs. It
has remained for long unresolved the influence of egg size on hatchability and
subsequent growth performance of Japanese quail. However, it is expected that many of
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the common factors known to influence the incubation success in commercial poultry
eggs may likely affect quail egg hatchability (Gonzalez et al., 1999).
Nutrition is one of the most important factors required to maintain chicks hatched from
different egg sizes. Generally, information on protein requirements of quails in Nigeria
is limited. Proteins provide amino acids for tissue growth and egg production. Most of
the formulated diets used for feeding quails are based on the NRC recommended
allowances meant for temperate regions of the world. Sukerai (1979) reported significant
efficiency of feed utilization and egg production when quails were fed 28% to 32%
protein level with 3.1 to 3.2 Kcal/g metabolizable energy. Protein values found suitable
for raising quails in temperate countries may not be appropriate for quail birds in tropical
environments. Also the use of chicken or turkey diets in feeding quails due to lack of
adequate information on the nutritional requirements of quails and appropriate diets
formulated specifically for quails in the Nigerian livestock feed market is common. The
need to generate information on the protein requirement of quail at all phases of growth
and production for emerging quail farmers cannot be overemphasized.
In order to improve the performance of these birds, certain base line information/data are
needed. This work was therefore aimed at determining the influence of age of Japanese
laying quails on egg size, hatchability and post hatching growth of chicks fed varying
dietary protein levels.
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1.2 Objectives of the study
This study was therefore designed with the following objectives:
1 Determine the relationship between age, egg size and hatchability of egg in
Japanese quails.
2 Determine the relationship between egg size, dietary protein levels, post hatch
growth of chicks and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails.
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