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The present investigation was undertaken in black and white quails for studying the effect of plumage colour, estimating genetic parameters and fitting non-linear regression model to growth curve in white and black Japanese quails. White quails were significantly heavier in comparison to black quails across age groups indicating association of plumage colour with growth rate. The body weight variables measured at bi-weekly intervals when considered as a single variable had low repeatability indicating they were genetically not identical variables. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability indicated higher additive variance in white quails in comparison to black quails. Phenotypic correlation estimates between bodyweights at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks of age, ranged from medium to high indicating favourable correlated response in bodyweight variables. Gompertz curve had very good fit with the data (99.6%) and similar curve parameters were estimated in both quail varieties. Point of inflection (IPT) was similar in both quail varieties and was 3.46 (black) and 3.44 weeks of age (white). The estimates of different growth parameters indicated the favourable effect of selection in these quail lines. Results indicated that growth curve estimates can be used for developing future breeding strategies in quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated genetic correlations between partial and total body weight gain (BWG) and individual feed conversion (FC) aiming to identify possible partial traits as selection criteria in meat quail breeding programs. Data included 379 records from two different genetic lines (188 quails from UFV1 and 191 from UFV2). The following traits were evaluated: individual feed conversion from 21 to 28 (FC 21–28 ) and from 28 to 35 days of age (FC 28–35 ); body weight gain from 1 to 21 (BWG 1–21 ), 21–28 (BWG 21–28 ), 28–35 (BWG 28–35 ) and from 1 to 35 (BWG 1–35 , full period) days of age. Genetic parameters (heritabilities and genetic correlations) were estimated through multi-trait models via Bayesian inference. For UFV1 line, genetic correlations estimates (with respective credible intervals) between BWG 1–21 and BWG 1–35 , BWG 21–28 and BWG 1–35 , BWG 28–35 and BWG 1–35 , FC 21–28 and FC 28–35 , FC 21–28 and BWG 1–35 , and FC 28–35 and BWG 1–35 were 0.62 0.15–0.90), 0.81 0.60–0.94), 0.69 0.35–0.88), 0.06 (−050 to 0.60), −0.87 (−0.97 to −0.63) and −0.51 (−0.84 to −0.01), respectively; and for UFV2 line, these estimates were 0.33 (−0.05 to 0.63), 0.79 0.59–0.92), 0.88 0.73–0.96), 0.35 (−0.30 to 0.78), −0.56 (−0.85 to −0.09) and −0.76 (−0.93 to −0.41), respectively. Additionally, for the UFV1 line heritability estimates for BWG 21–28 and FC 21–28 were 0.69 0.40–0.86) and 0.55 0.31–0.74), respectively; while for UFV2 line the heritabilities for BWG 28–35 and FC 28–35 were 0.68 0.47–0.83) and 0.37 0.17–0.63). Based on these results, we recommend as target traits BWG 21–28 and FC 21–28 for UFV1 line; and BWG 28–35 for UFV2 line. Selecting for these indicated traits, we expect to reduce breeding program costs related mainly to feeding of non-selected animals and labor with phenotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results concerning morphological index of birds of the order Galliformes, genus Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix japonica species sp. from Bihor County. The investigations were conducted in three private farms in Bihor County. There were analyzed in total 995 specimens of quail's population. The following morphological parameters were studied: body weight, food consumption, the outputs situation from covey and their causes. There has been a linear trend of weight gain, more pronounced in females compared to males during juvenile period. At the end of the laying period, males had a weight of approx. 130g, and females nearly 150g, values located just below average performance. The efficiency of feed utilization was quite low: 4.6 - 4.9 kg feed/kg gain during youth, and at laying quail. It was necessary to consume a quantity of 23,01g fodder to produce an egg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietetic metabolizable energy levels on performance and carcass traits of meat quails from 15 to 35 days old. Five hundred sixty, 15-d old, meat quails were randomly assigned to five treatments (2.850; 2.950; 3.050; 3.150 e 3.250kcal of ME kg-1 of diet), with eight replicates and fourteen birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, protein and lysine intake and feed conversion decreased linearly as the metabolizable energy content of diets increased (P<0.01), whereas metabolizable energy intake, body weight, weight gain and viability were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. Diets did not influence (P>0.05) carcass traits as dry matter, moisture and protein content in carcass. However a quadratic effect (P<0.04) were observed on carcass fat content. Based on these results, the adequate metabolizable energy level to ensure better meat quails' growth is 3.250kcal of ME kg-1 diet, that corresponds to a metabolizable energy: crude protein ratio of 139,24. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of genotype by environment (G×E) interaction for body weight (BW) of meat-type quails ( Coturnix coturnix ) during the growing period using two strains (LF1 and LF2) to changes in the dietary (methionine+cystine):lysine ([Met+Cys]:Lys) ratio. A total of 4512 records, collected during the initial phase (day 14 and 21), and final phase (day 28 and 35), was used for analyses. During the initial phase, quails were fed diets with increasing (Met+Cys):Lys ratios (0.61, 0.66, 0.71, 0.76, and 0.81), containing 26.1% crude protein (CP) and 2900 kcal ME/kg; and during the final phase, quails were fed a single diet containing 22% CP and 3050 kcal ME/kg. A single-trait animal model, including sex as the fixed effect, (Met+Cys):Lys ratio as the control variable, and breeding value as the random effect, was utilized for analyses. The Legendre polynomial of second order was utilized for the analysis of the G×E (nutritional levels) interaction using reaction norm. Genetic variance and heritability estimates varied according to the nutritional gradient. The LF2 strain had greater sensitivity to changes in the dietary (Met+Cys):Lys ratio compared with LF1, and greater residual effect of diets provided during the initial phase of the growing period. Genetic evaluations for quails fed different dietary (Met+Cys):Lys ratio provided changes in the predicted BW breeding values. We conclude that selection population must be fed with same dietary (Met+Cys):Lys ratio that commercial populations are fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate plasma macrominerals (Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg) in adult male and female quails according to different body weights in four close-bred flocks of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) maintained at the Avian Research and Training Center of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The results showed that mean plasma Na concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails with respect to body size categories. The interaction between flocks and body size for plasma Ca levels was significant (P < 0.05) in both sexes of quails, whereas plasma Na was significant (P < 0.05) in female quails. The mean plasma P and K levels in imported and local flocks of Japanese quails were significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails, whereas plasma Mg was significantly (P < 0.05) different in male quails. However, with respect to body size categories, plasma P, K, and Mg were significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails only. The interaction between flocks and body size was significant for K and P in female quails and for plasma Mg levels in both sexes of quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining ability effects for some broiler traits of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were studied under warm-humid conditions of West Bengal, India. The data were collected on pure and cross line quails from a 3 x 3 complete diallel cross experiment for body weight of individual quail chicks from day old to 8th week of age at fortnight interval and conformation traits viz., breast angle, keel length and shank length at 6th and 8th weeks of age to estimate GCA, SCA and reciprocal effects. GCA, SCA and reciprocal effects were significant for most of the traits studied. The estimates of combining ability effects and heterosis effect of different genetic groups suggested that the ML (meat line) x SL (synthetic line) cross is suited best as broiler quail chick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]