Research Article

Comparative Study of Carcass Traits in Four Strains of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) at 3 to 6 Weeks of Age

Erum Bughio1, Ahmed Sultan Jatoi1*, Jibran Hussain2, Muhammad Hayat Jaspal3, Shahid Mehmood2, Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq4, Reema Bughio5 and Athar Mahmud2

1Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand-67210, Pakistan; 2Department of Poultry Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Meat Science Technology, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; 4Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan; 5Departmet of Animal Product Technology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan.

Received | November 26, 2017; Accepted | August 05, 2020; Published | September 12, 2020

*Correspondence | Ahmed Sultan Jatoi, Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand-67210, Pakistan; Email: asultanjatoi@sbbuvas.edu.pk, drasultan_jatoi@yahoo.com

Citation | Bughio, E., A.S. Jatoi, J. Hussain, M.H. Jaspal, S. Mehmood, H.M. Ishaq, R. Bughio and A. Mahmud. 2020. Comparative study of carcass traits in four strains of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) at 3 to 6 weeks of age. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 36(3): 979-984.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2020/36.3.979.984

Keywords | Dressing percentage, Keel length, Keel angle, Shank length, Giblets, Intestinal length

Introduction

Nowadays Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) are to be found worldwide including Pakistan locally called “Betair”. Japanese quail farming is one of the most suitable and easily adaptable enterprises possessing low capital investment and rapid turnover and raised for their tasty meat and nutritious eggs all over the world including Pakistan. It has the great potential to be exploited as an economical and efficient source of production of meat in the country provided its body weight and carcass yield is further improved (Akram et al., 2008). A number of lines, breeds and varieties have been developed for different production purposes (Jatoi, 2012; Rahman et al., 2016). Japanese quail is well-known for meat and lay matchless and tasty eggs (Mahmoud and El-Tarabany, 2016) and also considered as the excellent meat producer source amongst all the quails strains present in the worldwide with an average 200 gm live adult weight at 4-weeks of age (Ahmad, 2016; Sabow, 2020). The rearing of quail is highly profitable due to its high reproductive efficiency, early sex maturity, fast growth rate i.e. short rearing period (4 to 5 weeks for meat production) under optimal managemental conditions, less space requirement, more resistance to diseases which minimizes the use of medication and vaccination and delicious meat quality. Moreover, it is highly prolific, very hardy, easy to raise and handle, inexpensive to maintain and an efficient converter of feed into meat (Tikk and Tikk, 1993; Baumgartner, 2004; Minvielle, 2004; Boni et al., 2010; Aminzade et al., 2012). Rearing quails for egg production is rather difficult due to marketing problems but rearing of broiler quails for meat purpose might be adapted to marketplace in cities and big towns (Kumari et al., 2008; Ikhlas et al., 2010). Quails are also popular for their good quality meat with high proteins (26%) and less fat (3%) (Daikwo et al., 2013; Alagawany et al., 2014). In quails, body weight considerably affected age (Boni et al., 2010), carcass characteristics (Kumar et al., 2011; Sartowska et al., 2014) and quality of meat (Genchev et al., 2008; Choi et al., 2012). Change in carcass traits also influence with advancement of age (Wilkkanowska and Kokoszynski, 2011) and value of meat (Lawrie, 1991; Mohammad, 2016).

These small size birds are mainly consumed as a whole-carcass. The growth rate in quails could be further improved to achieve an adequate level of production and make sure a fulfilling carcass and meat quality as per definite targets of each production system. The main objective is to produce a good quality carcass and specifically obtain maximum meat yield. Inadequate research work has been conducted on different aspects of Japanese quail in developing countries including Pakistan. Therefore, the present experiment was planned with aim to study carcass characteristics in 4 different strains of Japanese quail at 3 to 6 weeks of age.

 

Materials and Methods

The present experiment was planned to examine the carcass traits in 4 different strains of Japanese quails at 3 to 6 weeks of age maintained at Avian Research and Training Centre (ARTC), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore. These 4 quail strains were used in this experiment by allocating names as M (Major), K (Kaleem), S (Saadat) and Z (Zahid). In total, 2160 quail chicks were studied with 108 experimental units of each 20 chicks were applied. The brooding temperature during first week was maintained at 95ºF and reduced by 5ºF each week till 70ºF having humidity level of 60% (North and Bell, 1991). Birds had free access to clean and fresh drinking water through automatic nipple drinkers all the times. There was a provision of ad-libitum broiler-quail ration feeding as per NRC Standard (1994). Experimental quails were tagged during the study period for their proper identification. From week 3 to onward, 216 quail (randomly picked one bird from each replicate) and were withdrawals feed up to 5-6 hours before slaughter, to ensure their intestines must be free from undigested feed to reduce the chances of any contamination. Quails were slaughtered by humanitarianly to make sure for complete blood loss. Quail were weighed separately then studied parameters were also weighed individually to studied the carcass traits live weight (g), dressing percentage, keel length (cm), keel angle, shank length (cm), edible giblets (g) and intestine length (cm).

Statistical analysis

Collected data in terms of carcass traits were analyzed using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques (Steel et al., 1997) using SAS, 9.1, (2002-03) portable software, assuming following mathematical model:

Where;

Y, each observation; μ, population mean; Si, effect of the treatment; εij, random error.

The means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range (DMR) test (Duncan, 1955).

 

Results and Discussion

The live weight (g) of the quail birds differed significantly (P < 0.05) in M (Major) strain (Table 1). The results of present study are close to earlier findings of Rehman (2006); Jatoi (2012); Hassan and Fadhi (2019) who reported that, slaughter weight (g) at the age of 4-week differed significantly among local and imported quail stocks. Similarly, Alamuoye and Ojo (2015) also noted higher average live weight (g) (P<0.05) at different ages in Japanese quail. Furthermore; Sabow (2020) observed highest slaughter weight (g) and carcass yields in brown type of quails than other quails. Walita et al. (2017) also noted higher mean slaughter weight (g) in quails at the age of 5, 8 and 11 weeks. According to Wilkkanowska and Kokoszynski (2011) quail carcass yield traits increased in older ages. Alves et al. (2014) also reported higher liver weight in quails at 42 weeks of age than 35 weeks. El-Full, (2000) further indicated that carcass characteristics differ significantly by age in Japanese quail. The proper age which could be used to slaughter the young quail and to predict economic traits was 6 weeks, because birds had higher dressing and protein percentages than at older ages. Body weight or slaughter age was preferable because such measures did not require slaughtering of the quail. Similarly, Walita et al. (2017) reported that quail slaughtered around 5-6 weeks of age could be obtained higher carcass yields. Dressing percentage and shank length (cm) differed non-significantly in this study (Table 1). Results of this experiment are also in confirmation with previous results of Rehman (2006) and Jatoi (2012) who reported that dressing percentage and shank length (cm) among imported and local Japanese quails stocks show non-significant effect at week-4. Similarly, Anna and Dariusz (2011) also reported that Pharaoh quail slaughtered at 33 days did not show any significant difference in carcass yield. In terms of dressing proportion (%) in Japanese quails (6 to 33 weeks); earlier researchers Wilson et al. (1961); Bacon and Nestor (1983); El-Fiky (1991); Kosba et al. (1992); Anna and Dariusz (2011) noted as 69.4%, 59.3 to 67.3%, 69.6 to 68.1% and 66.1 to 63.7% respectively. In this study; keel length (cm) differed significantly at 3, 5 and 6 weeks except week-4; indicated difference in keel length (cm) among studied quails (Table 1) are close to prior results of Rehman (2006) and Jatoi (2012) who reported that keel length (cm) differed significantly among imported and local Japanese quails stocks at week-3 while non-significant effect on week-4. Keel angle also differ significantly (P < 0.05) at week-3; except week 4, 5 and 6 in this study. The results indicated difference in keel angle among studied quails (Table 1) are in array with Rehman (2006) and Jatoi (2012)who noted higher keel angle in Japanese quails at week-3 while, non-significant effect on week-4.

 

Table 1: Carcass traits in four strains of Japanese quail at 3-6 weeks of age.

Parameters	Strains Weeks	M♠	K♣	S♥	Z♦
		(Mean ± *SE)
Live weight (g)	wk-3	104.22±1.788a	100.56±1.254ab	99.19±1.611b	91.26±1.172c
	wk-4	143.22±2.608a	140.04±1.581a	134.00±2.273b	130.63±1.373b
	wk-5	173.44±2.903a	170.52±2.443ab	165.04±3.299b	155.33±1.609c
	wk-6	193.74±3.796a	190.89±4.144a	176.56±4.246b	170.78±2.998b
Dressing percentage	wk-3	54.67±0.531a	54.43±0.589a	54.14±0.661a	54.50±0.421a
	wk-4	58.01±0.617a	59.21±0.401a	59.94±0.452a	59.60±0.512a
	wk-5	59.68±0.296a	59.51±0.389a	58.27±0.533a	60.22±0.664a
	wk-6	54.63±0.483a	56.59±0.454a	56.61±0.485a	56.18±0.424a
Keel length (cm)	wk-3	1.86 ±0.052b	2.11 ±0.065a	2.09 ±0.083a	2.11 ±0.065a
	wk-4	2.36 ±0.087a	2.54 ±0.052a	2.50 ±0.077a	2.54 ±0.052a
	wk-5	3.06 ±0.101b	3.58 ±0.063a	3.44 ±0.064a	3.58 ±0.063a
	wk-6	3.69 ±0.067a	3.37 ±0.043b	3.48 ±0.065b	3.37 ±0.043b
Keel angle (Λ)	wk-3	14.48±0.645b	18.00±1.208a	15.44±0.958ab	16.63±0.902ab
	wk-4	27.78±1.673a	25.33±1.835a	29.78±1.275a	27.11±1.901a
	wk-5	19.19±0.768a	17.70±0.866a	16.78±0.872a	18.78±1.073a
	wk-6	17.19±0.739a	17.11±0.682a	18.59±0.788a	19.11±0.829a
Shank length (cm)	wk-3	2.90±0.031a	2.85±0.041a	2.82±0.033a	2.79±0.043a
	wk-4	3.11±0.031a	3.15±0.032a	3.19±0.037a	3.13±0.033a
	wk-5	3.20±0.030a	3.25±0.026a	3.21±0.025a	3.22±0.032a
	wk-6	3.31±0.022a	3.30±0.026a	3.29±0.036a	3.25±0.026a

Different alphabets on means show significant difference at P < 0.05. ♠M: Major; ♣K: Kaleem; ♥S: Saadat; ♦Z: Zahid; *SE: Standard error.

 

Table 2: Weight of giblets (liver, heart and gizzard) and intestinal length (g, cm/100g BW) (cm) in four strains of Japanese quail at 3-6 weeks of age.

Parameters	Strains Weeks	M♠	K♣	S♥	Z♦
		(Mean ± *SE; g, cm/100g BW)
Liver weight (g)	wk-3	2.39±0.101c	2.72±0.052b	2.55±0.073bc	3.08±0.084a
	wk-4	3.36±0.112ab	3.34±0.114ab	3.11±0.038b	3.40±0.100a
	wk-5	3.50±0.062a	3.49±0.080a	3.54±0.102a	3.06±0.128b
	wk-6	4.44±0.070a	3.96±0.087b	4.33±0.040a	4.33±0.091a
Heart weight (g)	wk-3	0.85 ±0.021a	0.86±0.018a	0.84 ±0.021a	0.78±0.024b
	wk-4	1.09 ±0.048a	0.96±0.053a	1.02 ±0.036a	1.01±0.037a
	wk-5	1.46 ±0.024a	1.46 ±0.033a	1.36±0.045a	1.46 ±0.088a
	wk-6	1.96 ±0.029a	1.77 ±0.032b	1.99 ±0.015a	1.71 ±0.035b
Empty gizzard weight (g)	wk-3	3.05 ±0.037a	3.12 ±0.084a	3.11 ±0.071a	3.14 ±0.074a
	wk-4	4.26 ±0.123a	4.00±0.110ab	3.83 ±0.109b	3.84 ±0.086b
	wk-5	4.12 ±0.09a	4.00±0.132ab	3.86±0.076ab	3.74 ±0.108b
	wk-6	4.89 ±0.062a	4.22 ±0.153c	4.76±0.036ab	4.53 ±0.104b
Intestinal length (cm)	wk-3	39.97±0.168a	39.36±0.360a	36.63±0.789b	36.53±0.409b
	wk-4	40.48±0.858a	38.96±0.639a	38.84±0.318a	40.56±0.878a
	wk-5	37.68±0.620ab	38.90±0.361a	38.77±0.362a	36.46±0.633b
	wk-6	42.60±0.382a	42.20±0.435a	42.06±0.181a	42.51±0.545a

Different alphabets on means show significant difference at P < 0.05. ♠M: Major; ♣K: Kaleem; ♥S: Saadat; ♦Z: Zahid; *SE: Standard error.

 

In study; liver weight (g) showed significantly differences in four strains of quail birds in all the slaughter ages. Higher liver weight (3.08±0.084) was noted in Z strain whereas, significant effect were also noted at week 3 and 6 in K and S strain respectively, while, a non-significant difference were observed in M strain at 4 and 5 weeks. Empty gizzard weight was significantly differed at 4, 5 and 6 weeks (Table 2). These results indicated differences in liver, heart and gizzard weight among different strains of Japanese quails are in agreement with Kumari et al. (2008) who noted higher slaughter characteristics (liver, heart and gizzard) among different strains of Japanese quails. Likewise; Walita et al. (2017) observed that slaughter weight in terms of giblets significantly differ (P<0.05) in quails at 5 to 6 weeks of age. Moreover; Dhaliwal et al. (2004) observed that enhancement of giblet proportion (%) rationally linked by means of body weight at 4 weeks in Japanese quails. The findings of this study are also fully confirmation with Rehman (2006) and Jatoi (2012) who reported that giblets weight differed significantly at week-4 in quails. Similarly, these results indicated significant variations in giblets weight in studied quails which are in accordance with results of Oguz et al. (1996) who observed same difference in different quail lines. El-Full (2000) also reported significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences were attributed to slaughter age in terms of heart, gizzard, liver, edible and inedible percentages. Length of intestine (cm) considerably differed at weeks 3, 5 and 6, except weeks 4 in this study. This indicated differences in length of intestine among studied quails (Table 2) are confirmation with observations of Rehman (2006) and Jatoi (2012) who noted significant difference in length of intestine amongst imported and local quail stocks at week 3; probably due to higher carcass weight of imported strain than those of other local strains of quails Sandip (2010). Likewise; Walita et al. (2017) reported significant differences in quail birds at 5 to 6 weeks in terms of intestinal length (cm).

 

Conclusions and Recommendations

Considerable variations in almost all the studied parameters in different strains of quails were noted throughout the experimental period indicate that possibility of further improvement in carcass traits. Imported quail strain (M) performed better in almost all the studied parameters than that of other strains of quails.

 

Novelty Statement

The rearing of quail is highly profitable due to its high reproductive efficiency, early sex maturity and fast growth rate especially for meat purpose. Therefore; this amazing small bird has been declared by researchers as the “model avian species for future research”.

 

Author’s Contribution

Erum Bughio was major author who designed and accomplishes this experiment. Ahmed Sultan Jatoi helped in write-up of this manuscript. Athar Mahmud, Muhammad Hayat Jaspal and Jibran Hussain assisted in data analysis, however; data and samples were collected by Shahid Mehmood, Reema Bughio and Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

 

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