Productive and reproductive traits of Japanese quail as affected by two housing system.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of two different housing systems; floor pens vs battery cages on productive and reproductive traits in Japanese quail. One hundred and eighty birds at 6 weeks of age were individually weighted and randomly divided into two equal experimental groups according to housing system (90 birds in each group, 30 male and 60 female), each group was randomly assigned to three replicates. Body weight, egg production and mortality rates were recorded. Fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality percentages were calculated. Egg quality traits, plumage conditions and cloacal gland area were estimated during the experimental period. The results revealed highly significant differences (P<0.01) between floor pens and battery cages on most of the studied traits. Using floor pens improved laying rate, egg number, egg weight, egg mass, hatchability, yolk index, shell thickness, internal quality unit values compared to battery cages. In contrast, using battery cages increased body weight, plumage deterioration, male cloacal gland area and total mortality rate compared with floor pens during experimental period. It was concluded that floor pens housing system had significant positive effects on productive and reproductive traits of laying Japanese quail as compared with battery cages.