The effect of breeder body mass on laying performance, egg quality, and hatching traits of Japanese quail.
Abstract
Aim of study: The aim of this research was to determine the effect of breeder body mass on egg laying performance, egg quality, and hatching traits of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).
Area of study: This study was carried out at the Poultry Unit and Research Centre of Çukurova University in the Republic of Türkiye.
Material and methods: In this study, a sum of 216 quails were used. The quails were divided into three experimental groups during the 5 weeks of age based on their body weight: high body mass (HBM), >310 g, medium body mass (MBM) from 290 to 310 g, and low body mass (LBM), <290 g; and then transferred to egg-laying cages. There were three replicates per group. Internal and external egg quality traits, hatching traits, and egg-laying performance were examined.
Main results: Egg production was statistically highest in the MBM group and the lowest in the HBM group (p≤0.05). The HBM group had the highest average egg weight and the lowest egg weight was observed in the LBM group (p≤0.05). The Haugh unit, albumen pH, shell thickness, yolk colour traits, shape index, albumen index, hatchability of fertile eggs, and yolk index were not statistically different among the experimental groups (p≥0.05). The fertility and hatchability of set eggs were statistically highest in the LBM group and lowest in the in the HBM group (p≤0.05).
Research highlights: Selection for HBM could improve egg weight, however; it may have a negative correlation with egg production and hatching traits.
Downloads
References
Abdallah N, Kursun K, Baylan M, 2024. Egg quality traits of French pekin ducks reared under the indoor housing systems. In 8th Int Student Science Conf, Izmir (Türkiye), May 23-24. pp: 23-24. https://doi.org/10.52460/issc.2024.029
Abdallah N, Boga YE, Kursun K, Baylan M, 2022. Automation in layer hen production. Int Conf on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies, Adana (Türkiye), Dec 22. pp:9.
Allanah TO, Okonkwo JC, Omeje SI, 2014. Fertility and hatchability characterization of three strains of egg type chickens. J Biosci: 3(6) 59-68. https://doi.org/10.14196/sjbs.v3i6.1537
Alkan S, Karabag K, Galic A, Balcioğlu MS, 2009. Effects of season and line on sexual maturity and some egg yield traits in selected Japanese quails. J Appl Anim Res: 35(2): 105-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2009.9706997
Alkan S, Karabağ K, Galiç A, Karsli T, Balcioğlu MS, 2010. Effects of selection for body weight and egg production on egg quality traits in Japanese quails of different lines and relationships between these traits. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg: 16 (2): 239-244. htpps://doi.org/10.9775/kvfd.2009.633
Akșit M, Yalçın S, Karul AB, 2003. Physiological stress parameters during food withdrawal period in force moulted hens. Arch fur Geflügelkd: 67 (5): 212 – 216.
Altan Ö, Oğuz İ, Akbaş Y, 1998. Effects of selection for high body weight and age of hen on egg characteristics in Japanese Quail. Turk J Vet Anim Sci: 22(6): 467-474.
Bagh J, Panigrahi B, Panda N, Pradhan CR, Mallik BK, Majhi B, Rout SS, 2016. Body weight, egg production, and egg quality traits of gray, brown, and white varieties of Japanese quail in coastal climatic condition of Odisha. Vet World: 9(8): 832. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2016.832-836
Baylan M, Kursun K, Abdallah N, Celik LB, Yenilmez F, Kutay H, 2024. The effect of housing systems on the growth, egg production, overall egg weight and egg quality traits of a new Turkish laying hen hybrid, Akbay. Rev Bras Cienc Avic:26(3):eRBCA-2024. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2024-1924
Cadillo AE, Malaver RH, Herrera FF, Degollar EM, Julca AC, Lara RT, Martineza RP, 2023. Analysis of Quality and Shelf Life of Quail Eggs in Sauce of Beta Vulgaris" Beterraga”. Chem Eng Trans: 101:247-52. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET23101042
Cahaner A, Nitsan Z, Nir I, 1986. Reproductive performance of broiler lines divergently selected on abdominal fat. Poult Sci: 65(7):1236-43. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0651236
Camci, O, Erensayin C, Aktan S, 2002. Relations between age at sexual maturity and some production characteristics in quails. Arch fur Geflugelkd: 66(6): 280-282.
Dahouda M, Adjolohoun S, Montchowui EH, Senou M, Hounsou NMD, Amoussa S, Vidjannagni DS, Abou M, Toleba SS, 2013. Growth performance of quails (Coturnix coturnix) fed on diets containing either animal or vegetable protein sources. Int J Poult Sci: 12(7): 396-400. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2013.396.400
Dzuriatmono ST, Widyas N, Cahyadi M, Wati AK, Dewanti R, 2019. Egg production of black and brown Japanese quails raised under battery cage system.
The 8th Int Sem on Tropical Animal Production, Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Sept 23–25 (Indonesia). pp:012042. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/387/1/012042
Ekinci O, Esenbuga N, Dagdemir V, 2023. The effects of body weight and age on performance, egg quality, blood parameters, and economic production of laying hens. J Hell Vet Medical Soc: 74(2): 5809-5816. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.30324
Fathi M, Abou-Emera O, Al-Homidan I, Galal A, Rayan G, 2022. Effect of genotype and egg weight on hatchability properties and embryonic mortality pattern of native chicken populations. Poult Sci: 101(11):102129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102129
Genchev A, 2012. Quality and composition of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix Japonica). TJS: 10(2): 91-101.
Hatab MH, Chen W, Abouelezz K, Elaroussi M, Badran A, Zoheir K, El-Komy E, Li S, Elokil A, 2024. Effects of exposing Japanese quail eggs to a low dose of gamma radiation and in ovo feeding by two sources of trace elements on embryonic development activities. Poult Sci:103(3):103364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.10336
Ipek A, Sahan U, Yilmaz B, 2004. The effect of live weight, male to female ratio and breeder age on reproduction performance in Japanese quails. S Afr J Anim Sci: 34(2): 130-134.
Jatoi AS, Sahota AW, Akram M, Javed K, Jaspal MH, Mehmood S, Hussain J, Ishaq HM, Bughio E, 2015. Egg quality characteristics as influenced by different body sizes in four close-bred flocks of Japanese quails. J Anim Plant Sci: 25(4): 921-926.
Jatoi AS, Sahota AW, Akram M, Javed K, Jaspal MH, Hussain J, Mirani AH, Mehmood S, 2013. Effect of different body weight categories on the productive performance of four close-bred flocks of Japanese quails. J Anim Plant Sci: 23(1): 7-13.
Karabağ K, Alkan S, Balcıoglu MS, 2010. The differences in some production and clutch traits in divergently selected Japanese quails. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg: 16(3):383-387.
Kaur S, Mandal AB, Singh KB, Kadam MM, 2008. The response of Japanese quails (heavy body weight line) to dietary energy levels and graded essential amino acid levels on growth performance and immuno-competence. Livest Sci: 1:117(2-3):255-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2007.12.019
Khurshid A, Farooq M, Durrani FR, Sarbiland K, Chand N, 2003. Predicting egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness and hatching weight of Japanese quail using various egg traits as regressors, Int J Poult Sci: 2: 164-167. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2003.164.167
Kırıkçı K, Günlü A, Cetin O, Garip M, 2007. Effect of hen weight on egg production and some egg quality characteristics in the partridge (Alectoris graeca). Poult Sci: 86(7):1380-3. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/86.7.1380
Kırıkçı K, Çetin O, Günlü A, Garip M, 2004. Effect of hen weight on egg production and some egg quality characteristics in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). Asian-Australas J Anim Sci: 17(5):684-687. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2004.684
Kocevski D, Nikolova N, Kuzelov A, 2011. The influence of strain and age on some egg quality parameters of commercial laying hens. 3rd Int Conf “New Perspectives and Challenges of Sustainable Livestock Production, Belgrade (Republic of Serbia), Oct 5–7. pp: 1649-1655.
Kurşun K, Abdallah N, Baylan M, 2024. Egg quality characteristics of Sussex chickens reared under the housing conditions of Cukurova University farm. Int Conf on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies, Adana (Türkiye), Oct 4-6. pp: 01047. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20248501047
Lacin E, Yildiz A, Esenbuga N, Macit M, 2008. Effects of differences in the initial body weight of groups on laying performance and egg quality parameters of Lohmann laying hens. Czech J Anim Sci: 53(11): 466-471.
Lalwani, 2011 cited from Tunsaringkarn T, Tungjaroenchai W, Siriwong W, 2013. Nutrient benefits of quail eggs. IJSRP: 3(5):1-8.
Mahrose KM, Michalak I, Farghly M, Elokil A, Zhang R, Ayaşan T, Mekawy A, Fazlani S, 2021. Role of clay in detoxification of aflatoxin B 1 in growing Japanese quail with reference to gender. Vet Res Commun: 45:363-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-021-09817-z
Matos Júnior JJ, Furtado DA, Ribeiro NL, Marques JI, Leite PG, Nascimento JW, Rodrigues VP, Lopes Neto JP, Rodrigues LR, Santos SG, Oliveira AG, 2023. Productive performance, egg quality and the morphometry of the organs of Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix Japônica) kept at different temperatures. Food Sci Technol: 43: e117822. https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.117822
Martin AG, Franklin WM, Maffiol A, 1998. Quail: An egg and meat production system. ECHO, USA: 1-14.
Minvielle F, Monvoisin JL, Costa J, Maeda Y, 2000. Long-term egg production and heterosis in quail lines after within-line or reciprocal recurrent selection for high early egg production. Br Poult Sci: 41(2): 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/713654914
Muir WI, Akter Y, Bruerton K, Groves PJ, 2022. The influence of hen size and diet nutrient density in early lay on hen performance, egg quality, and hen health in late lay. Poult Sci: 101(10): 102041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.102041
Najib H, Al-Yousif Y, 2014. Egg size Saudi local layers as affected by line of the bird (body weight at sexual maturity) and Dietary fat level. Int J Poult Sci: 13(8): 442-448. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2014.442.448
Nestor KE, Bacon WL, 1994. Changes in the frequency and size of smooth muscle tumors in Japanese quail lines differing in body weight. Poult Sci: 73(7):947-952. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0730947
Ocak N, Sarica M, Erener G, Garipoglu AV, 2004. The effect of body weight prior to molting in brown laying hens on egg yield and quality during second production cycle. Int J Poult Sci: 3(12): 768-72. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2004.768.772
Ojo V, Ayorinde KL, Fatoki HO, 2019. Relationship between body weight and some egg production trait in the Japanese quail. NISEB: 11(1): 89-94.
Panda B, Singh RP, 1990. Development in Processing Quail. Worlds Poult Sci J: 46: 219-234.
Pomaah AN, Abdallah N, Kurşun K, Baylan M, 2023. Egg production and consumption: a case study in Teshie municipality (Ghana). OKÜ Fen Bil Ens: 12 (6 Ek Sayı):454-66. https://doi.org/10.47495/okufbed.1265446
Reddish JM, Nestor KE, Lilburn MS, 2003. Effect of selection for growth on onset of sexual maturity in random bred and growth-selected lines of Japanese quail. Poult Sci: 82(2):187-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.2.187
Rehman A, Hussain J, Mahmud A, Javed K, Ghayas A, Ahmad S, 2022. Productive performance, egg quality, and hatching traits of Japanese quail lines selected for higher body weight and egg number. Turk J Vet Anim Sci: 46(2): 322-335. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0128.4180
Robinson FE, Robinson NA, 1991. Reproductive performance, growth rate and body composition of broiler breeder hens differing in body weight at 21 weeks of age. Can J Anim Sci: 71(4):1223-31. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas91-145
Sezer M, Berberoglu E, Ulutas Z, 2006. Genetic association between sexual maturity and weekly live-weights in laying-type Japanese quail. S Afr J Anim Sci: 36(2): 142-148. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v36i2.3997
Sınanoglou VJ, Strati IF, Miniadis-Meimaroglou S, 2011. Lipid, fatty acid and carotenoid content of edible egg yolks from avian species: A comparative study. Food Chem: 124(3): 971-977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.07.037
Tainika B, Şekeroğlu A, Akyol A, Şentürk YE, Abaci SH, Duman M, 2024. Effects of Age, Housing Environment, and Strain on Physical Egg Quality Parameters of Laying Hens. Rev Bras Cienc Avic: 26(03), eRBCA-2024. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2024-1911
Taskin A, Karadavut U, Tunca RI, Genc S, Cayan H, 2017. Effect of selection for body weight in Japanese quails on some production traits. Indian J Anim Res: 51 (2): 358-364. https://dx.doi.org/10.18805/ijar.11466
Thomas PC, Ahuja SD, 1988. Improvement of broiler quails of CARI through selective breeding. Poultry guide: 25(10): 45-47.
Tolik D, Poawska E, Charuta A, Nowaczewski S, Cooper R, 2014. Characteristics of egg parts, chemical composition and nutritive value of Japanese quail eggs–a review. Folia Biol (Kraków): 62(4):287-292. https://doi.org/10.3409/fb62_4.287
Tunsaringkarn T, Tungjaroenchai W, Siriwong W, 2013. Nutrient benefits of quail eggs. IJSRP: 3(5): 1-8.
Tyasi TL, Sathekge LJ, Hlokoe VR, 2024. Association of Different Body Sizes and Egg Quality Characteristics in White Leghorn Chicken Breed of South Africa. Measurements. J World`s Poult Res: 14(2): 154-159. https://dx.doi.org/10.36380/jwpr.2024.16
Walzem RL, Chen SE, 2014. Obesity-induced dysfunctions in female reproduction: lessons from birds and mammals. Adv Nutr: 5: 199–206. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.113.004747
Whitehead CC, Armstrong J, Herron KM, 1990. The growth to maturity of lean and fat lines of broiler chickens given diets of different protein content: body composition, plasma lipoprotein concentration and initial egg production. Anim Prod: 50: 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000335610000458X
Zhang XY, Wu MQ, Wang SZ, Zhang H, Du ZQ, Li YM, Cao ZP, Luan P, Leng L, Li H., 2018. Genetic selection on abdominal fat content alters the reproductive performance of broilers. Animal: 12(6): 1232-1241. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731117002658
Zhu G, Fang C, Li J, Mo C, Wang Y, Li J, 2019. Transcriptomic diversification of granulosa cells during follicular development in chicken. Sci Rep: 9(1): 5462. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41132-1
Copyright (c) 2025 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.
