TITLE:
Effect of the Quail Phenotype and Breeding Age on Egg Laying and Characteristics
AUTHORS:
Djitie Kouatcho François, Alvine Eleonor Akana, Razvan Mihail Radu-Rusu, Alina Teodorescu, Marius Giorgi Usturoi, Ferdinand Ngoula, Alexis Teguia
KEYWORDS:
Oviposition, Eggs, Plumage Colour, Quail, Sudano-Guinean Zone
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.11 No.2,
April
15,
2021
ABSTRACT: In order to evaluate the effect of phenotype and quail age on laying rate
and egg characteristics, a study has been carried out in Ngaoundéré
from February to August 2019. 216 quails were divided into 36 batches of 6
animals each (5 females and 1 male) according to age and phenotype. The
experimental animals were white, spotted white, grey and brown phenotypes and
were one, six and ten months old. Eggs were collected for three weeks between 8 pm - 4 pm and
4 pm - 8 pm,
counted, weighed and measured. 15 eggs per phenotype were randomly selected,
broken individually, which allowed the internal parameters to be evaluated. The
main results show that the quails laid more eggs between 4 pm - 8 pm, the highest laying
rate was obtained in quails at one moth of laying and the spotted white phenotype had a high laying
rate (74.03%) compared to other phenotypes.
At one month of breeding age, quails with the spotted white phenotype showed a
higher laying rate (93.34%), brown (78.75%) and grey (74%) at six months
and finally white (71%) at ten months. Weight, height, diameter and egg shape
index did not vary with the quail phenotype. The highest egg volume (12.60 ml)
was found in white quails. The shells of white spotted quails were thicker than
those of other phenotypes. Grey quails laid eggs with the highest Haugh’s index and proportion of
edible matter. Brown quail eggs were found to have a higher proportion of dry
yolk matter. Dry matter and moisture content of albumen did not vary with the
quail phenotype. Considering the results obtained, it has been concluded that
spotted white phenotype quails are more suitable for reproduction as they
presented the best egg-laying proportions of edible matter.