The effect of egg weight on chick body weight and post hatching growth performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was studied. A total of 2575 eggs were collected and sorted into three groups by weight; light ( 12 g). Egg weight (EW), Egg length (EL), Egg circumference (EC), Shank Length (SL) and Body weight (BW) were taken on the corresponding egg groups. Data was analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS® to compare percent fertility, hatchability, hatch and rearing mortality over three egg groups while relationship among recorded variables was estimated using the CORR procedure of SAS®. Results showed that there were significant (P 0.50) indicating that an improvement in body weight could lead to an improvement in shank length and vice-versa. BW increased with SL within groups. Egg size and chick weight were positively correlated with growth performance traits. There were also significant differences between the egg weight groups with regards to percentage hatchability which was found to be 58.02%, 90.89% and 76.23% respectively, with the medium weight being superior also for fertility (94.57 %) and rearing mortality (1.53%). Medium sized eggs (10–12 g) were superior for hatchability, fertility and good quality day old chicks post hatching performance.
Morphometric traits have been found useful in quantifying body size and shape and scientific information on them would be required for genetic improvement of turkeys. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of sex and genotype on morphometric traits of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Linear body measurements were taken on 70 exotic turkeys (20 males and 50 females) and 80 locally adapted turkeys (30 males and 50 females) randomly selected from the Turkey Unit at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm. The linear body measurements taken and recorded were the beak length, head length, neck length, body length, keel length, wing span, wing length, drumstick, Shank length, toe length, tail length and body girth all taken in centimeters (cm) using a measuring tape. Data were analyzed with the GLM procedure of SAS and Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to detect differences among means. There were significant differences (p <0.05) between male and female turkeys with male turkeys having higher values as an expression of sexual dimorphism for all studied traits. Further, the male was found to be significantly higher (p <0.05) than the females for all the morphometric traits measured both for the local and exotic type. The exotic type was found to be significantly (p <0.05) higher than the local type for all the morphometric traits measured. There were significant (p <0.05) interactions between sex and genotype with the male exotic having higher values of all the morphometric traits observed. It was concluded that turkeys are sexually dimorphic and that exotic type had higher body conformation and morphology than their locally adapted counterpart.
Guinea fowls represent an important animal genetic resource for food security in Nigeria. This study was conducted to investigate sexual dimorphism and the effect of location on morphometric traits in guinea fowls, obtain fewer uncorrelated orthogonal variables (principal components) from body linear measurements of guinea fowl, obtain homogeneous groups from a heterogeneous set of adult guinea fowl and predict live body weight of guinea fowls . A total of one thousand and seventeen(1,017) adult guinea fowl varieties aged between 28 and 39 weeks (774 pearls; 64 lavenders;151 black and 28 white varieties) consisting of 457 males and 560 females were randomly selected from rural farmers and markets in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) each in Osun and Oyo States in South-Western Nigeria. Data were collected on body weight, helmet height, wattle length, thigh length, body circumference, shank length, body length, neck length, wing length using standard procedures. Data collected were analyzed using GLM, REG, PRINCOM and CLUSTER procedures of SAS. There were significant differences P(<0.05) in all morphometric traits except thigh length and wingspan among the four varieties. The location did not have a significant effect (P>0.05) on the morphometric traits of guinea fowl. However, guinea fowls were found to be sexually dimorphic for body weight and all morphometric traits.Three principal components were yielded for the pearl, black and white variety which explained 60%, 75%, and 85% of the generalized variances respectively for the three varieties. Two principal components were yielded by the factor solution in the case of lavender variety which explained 68% of the total variances. The thigh length, body circumference, and wattle length contribute to the total variability of PC1 and these traits could be used for selection in the breeding programme to improve the body weight of the genetics stocks guinea fowl. The significant and positive associations indicated by the prediction equations between body weight and body linear parameters showed that the regression equations could be used to predict body weight. Les pintades représentent une ressource génétique importante pour la sécurité alimentaire au Nigéria. Cette étude a été menée pour étudier le dimorphisme sexuel et l'effet de l'emplacement sur les caractères morphométriques chez les pintades, obtenir moins de variables orthogonales non corrélées (principaux composants) à partir de mesures linéaires corporelles de la pintade, obtenir des groupes homogènes à partir d'un ensemble hétérogène de pintades adultes et prédire le poids corporel vivant des pintades à l'aide de mesures linéaires corporelles de la pintade. Un total de mille dix-sept (1 017) variétés de pintades adultes âgées de 28 à 39 semaines (774 perles; 64 lavandes; 151 variétés noires et 28 variétés blanches) composées de 457 mâles et 560 femelles ont été choisies au hasard parmi les agriculteurs ruraux et les marchés de deux zones d'administrations locales (les 'LGA) chacune dans les États d'Osun et d'Oyo, dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria. Des données ont été recueillies sur le poids corporel, la hauteur du casque, la longueur du wattle, la longueur des cuisses, la circonférence du corps, la longueur de la tige, la longueur du corps, la longueur du cou, la longueur des ailes à l'aide de procédures standard. Les données recueillies ont été analysées à l'aide des procédures 'GLM', 'REG', 'PRINCOMP' et 'CLUSTER' de 'SAS'. Il y avait des différences significatives (p<0,05) dans tous les traits morphométriques, à l'exception de la longueur et de l'envergure des cuisses entre les quatre variétés. L'emplacement n'a pas eu d'effet significatif (p>0,05) sur les traits morphométriques de la pintade. Cependant, les pintades se sont trouvées sexuellement dimorphic pour le poids corporel et tous les traits morphométriques. Trois composants principaux ont été cédés pour la variété de perle, noir et blanc qui a expliqué 60%, 75%, et 85% des écarts généralisées respectivement pour les trois variétés. Deux composants principaux ont été rapportés par la solution de facteur dans le cas de la variété de lavande qui a expliqué 68% des écarts totaux. La longueur des cuisses, la circonférence du corps et la longueur du wattle contribuent à la variabilité totale du PC1 et ces traits pourraient être utilisés pour la sélection dans le programme de reproduction afin d'améliorer le poids corporel des stocks génétiques de pintades. Les associations significatives et positives indiquées par les équations de prédiction entre le poids corporel et les paramètres linéaires du corps ont montré que les équations de régression pouvaient être utilisées pour prédire le poids corporel.
A total of 168 two-weeks-old Japanese quail chicks of mixed sex were used to study the relationship between Body weight and linear measurements in Japanese quail. Data were collected on body weight, body length, body girth, wing length, shank length and drumstick length fortnightly for eight weeks to predict body weight. Data were subjected to SAS for analysis. The mean body weights were 38.31, 81.12, 121.38 and 132.15g, respectively. Body weight gain increased as the birds advance in age and the highest body weight gain was between week 2 and week 4. Female birds were significantly (P< 0.05) heavier than male. Body weight had a positive correlation with all linear body measurements at week 2 except for drumstick length. The best correlation was obtained between body weight and body girth at the 2nd week of age (0.82) (P< 0.05). The estimates of coefficient of determination which ranged from 0.0043 to 0.68 and predictive equations show that body weight in Japanese quail is linearly related to body measurements especially with body girth and body length. The study showed that Body girth and Body length could be used as criteria for assessment and early selection of Japanese quail for body weight.
Previous studies on Japanese quails have fitted non-linear models to growth data and assessed resultant parameters under a restricted nutritional environment. This study modeled the growth of Japanese quails under different nutritional environments, compared them in order to choose the best fitted model and investigated the statistical interaction between sex and diet using the best fitted model. Weekly body weight (BW) records were collected from 360 quails from hatch to 56 days. Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic models were used for the study. Each model was fitted separately to BW using the NLIN procedure of SAS®. Parameters were estimated for each model and comparison was based on R2, AIC and BIC. Across the diets, asymptotic weight (A) for Gompertz ranged from 147.0-162.7g, Bertalanffy, 152.0-176.7g and Logistic, 135.0-146.3g Growth rate (k) for Gompertz model ranged from 0.35-0.48, Bertalanffy, 0.29-0.37 and Logistic, 0.60-0.81. A for males of 22%-20%, 22%-22% and 26%-20% combinations were significantly (P 0.05) was observed in the k of both the male and female under all diets combinations. The study concluded that Logistic model (R2=0.99634-0.99939; AIC=4.5392-57.9737; BIC=8.67-62.10) resulted in the best fit model.Keywords: Nutritional environments, Non-linear models, body weight, growth rate and Japanese quails
This study was carried out to compare production traits of three breeds of exotic commercial layers for a production period of 15 months. The breeds are Isa Brown (IB), Bovan Nera (BN) and Dominant Black (DB) and the traits considered are hen-day egg production, feed efficiency and mortality rate. The general means are 5.24eggs/ bird/week, 0.006/bird/week and 0.16/breed/week for egg production, feed efficiency and mortality rate, respectively. There was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of breed on egg production and feed efficiency but the reverse was the case for mortality rate. On egg production, IB genotype recorded 5.37+0.07 eggs/bird/week while BN breed had 5.41+0.08 eggs/bird/week and the values were similar but superior to DB genotype with 4.94eggs/bird/week. For feed efficiency, IB and BN breeds recorded higher mean values and were similar but superior to DB genotype. The mean values are: IB=0.006+9.05x10-5, BN=0.006+8.53x10-5 and DB=0.005/bird/week. Breed’s effect on mortality rate showed that the three genotypes had similar values, that is, breed has no significant (P>0.05) effect on this trait. There was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age of birds on egg production. Age 2 (2nd month) recorded the highest mean values while age 14 (14th month) was the lowest. The values respectively, are 6.04+0.16 eggs/bird/week and 4.18+0.16 eggs/bird/week. In addition, there was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age of birds on feedefficiency regardless of the breed of birds. Age 2 (2nd month) recorded the highest mean values and age 14 (14th month) the lowest. There was also highly significant (P<0.01) effect of age on mortality rate of commercial layers. The long-term production analyses showed that IB and BN genotypes are more productive, feed efficient and could be recommended to farmers as commercially viable breeds of layers.
Weekly body weight and shank length records of 2,591 quails were used to estimate the repeatability of body weight and shank length in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Variance components between individual quails, error variance among the quails and standard error were computed using Microsoft Excel computer package. The results showed that average body weight of quail ranged from 7.482g at hatching to 203.508g (Seventh week) while the shank length ranged from 1.424cm at hatch to 3.619cm (Seventh week). The result showed that Japanese quails had high repeatability estimate at all weeks of age for the body weight ranging from 0.929 to 0.989. Similarly, the repeatability of body weight gain ranged from 0.753 to 0.883. Also, the repeatability estimates for shank length at all weeks of age were also high ranging from 0.879 to 0.997. The repeatability estimates for shank length increment ranged from low estimate value of 0.0968 at the 2nd week of age to high value of 0.713 at the 7th week of age. In conclusion, the result showed that fewer records are required to characterize body weight and shank length growth performance potential of Japanese quail and that Japanese quails can be selected for these growth performance traits at early stages of their life.
Keywords: Japanese quail, Repeatability, Body weight, Shank Length.
This study was conducted on one hundred freshly laid eggs from Japanese quails with the purpose of predicting quail egg weight (EW) from some internal and external egg components, and also to have accurate and reliable models, for the prediction of egg weight without the use of sensitive scale. The following external (egg weight, egg width, egg length, shell thickness) and internal (yolk width, yolk length, albumen height and haugh unit) components were measured and the level of relationships between them were determined. Descriptive statistics for egg weight, egg length, egg width, albumen height, yolk height, yolk width, shell thickness and haugh unit were 9.13g, 2.97cm, 2.33cm, 0.57cm, 1.14cm, 2.18cm, 0.13mm and 57.58, respectively. Intercept and slope of regression between variables were determined. Generated values were used in multiple, double and simple linear regression equations, respectively. A total of ten prediction equations comprising three multiple, six double and nine simple linear resulted from the data generated. All the equations developed can be used in egg type quail operations. Each prediction equation with egg weight as the dependent variable will assist poultry breeders and farmers in particular in determining the precise egg weight of eggs laid by birds on the farm.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of laying age and plumage colour on the internal and external quality characteristics of eggs laid by Noiler chicken. Three hundred freshly laid eggs of three plumage colours (brown, barred and black) and age (young and old) were used for this experiment. External and internal quality parameters measured were: egg weight, egg length, egg width, shape index, albumen height, yolk height, yolk width, yolk index, yolk and albumen weight, Haugh unit, shell thickness, shell thickness and shell surface area. The data were subjected to General Linear Model procedure of SAS® (2002) with laying age, plumage colour and their two-way interaction as fixed effects. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in albumen height, yolk height and Haugh unit as a result of differences in plumage colour. In addition, the study showed that age had a significant effect on all the parameters considered except egg shape index. The result showed that albumen height, yolk height and Haugh unit decreased with an increase in laying age. In conclusion, it was found that laying age and plumage colour had significant effect on the quality of eggs laid by Noiler chickens.
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