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This study was carried out to identify the effect of the egg shape index on the hatchability, performance, and carcass yield of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). Eggs were incubated in three groups, according to three different egg shape index ( , and the results showed that females were heavier than males (p<0.05; p<0.01; p<0.001, respectively).The effect of egg shape index on slaughter weight (p<0.05), left leg weight (p<0.05), liver weight (p<0.01) and liver rate (p<0.01) was significant. Females were heavier at slaughter than males in the egg shape index groups SI-I (p<0.05), SI-II (p<0.05), and SI-III (p>0.05) (female/male: 296.87/283.80, 287.95/278.00 and 283.86/278.10 g, respectively). Males presented higher carcass yield in SI-I (p>0.05), SI-II (p<0.01) and SI-III (p<0.05) (female/male: 74.40/75.92, 74.50/76.44 and 74.80/76.42%) groups than females. Egg shape index had no effect on initial egg weight (IEW), shell blunt end weight (SBW), chick weight, shank length, growth performance or carcass traits, but egg shape indexwas correlated with egg length, egg width, and hatchability of fertile eggs (p<0.05).

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-This study was performed to determine the effect of shell colour in eggs acquired from Ross-308 broiler breeders on the interior and exterior quality of the egg, the antibody content of the egg yolk, and growth performance. The shell colours of a total of 1350 eggs were classified, using a colorimeter, into three groups: dark (E<64), medium (E:64.00-67.00), and light (E>67). The difference between groups with respect to egg weight, shape index, shell weight, and Haugh unit value was significant. Egg yolk antibody content (IgY) was 6.658 mg/mL in the dark colour group, 5.130 mg/mL in the medium colour group, and 5.242 mg/mL in the light colour group. Among incubation characteristics, the fertility rate as, in order, 94.66%, 92.14%, and 87.92% in dark, medium, and light shell colour eggs, and the hatchability was 87.00%, 84.28%, and 80.57%, in the same order. No significant difference was observed between groups with respect to hatchability of fertile eggs and embryonic mortality rates. No significant difference was observed between groups for live weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio either. The eggshell colour has an effect on yolk antibody content and on the hatchability, but it has no influence on hatchability of fertile eggs, Haugh unit and growth performance.

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The effect of 1 to 2-, 3 to 4-, 5 to 6-, 7 to 8-, 9 to 10-, 11 to 12-, and 13 to 14-d storage periods on quality characteristics and hatchability of partridge (Alectoris graeca) eggs was studied. There was no significant effect of storage period on egg weight, shell weight, shell ratio, and shell thickness as external quality characteristics of partridge eggs (P > 0.05). Storage periods affected internal quality characteristics of partridge eggs (P < 0.05). An increase in yolk ratio (P < 0.05) and decrease in albumen ratio, yolk index, albumen index, and Haugh unit (P < 0.001) occurred when storage periods were lengthened. However, storage period had no significant effect on hatchability (P > 0.05). This study shows that long storage periods do not have negative effects on hatchability of partridge eggs to the extent that occurs in other poultry species. Because of a lack of knowledge about this subject, these studies will be useful in terms of successful intensive partridge breeding.

-This study was carried out to investigate the effects of eggshell colour and spot properties (colour and size of the spot area) on eggshell incubation temperature and hatching outcomes of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Study material was allocated to five groups according to their eggshell and spot colours: black spots on greyish white coloured eggshell (I), blue spots on greyish white coloured eggshell (II), diffuse brown spots on greyish brown coloured eggshell (III), brown spots on light green coloured eggshell (IV), and small brown spots on greyish brown coloured eggshell (V). The size of the spotted area was determined in each egg group using digital image analysis. Mean relative weight losses of hatched and unhatched eggs between days 0-10 and 0-14 of embryonic development were 4.76% and 10.48% and 9.17% and 15.46%, respectively. The mean eggshell temperatures of hatched and unhatched eggs measured at the equatorial region on days 10 and 14 during embryonic development were 36.92 and 37.79 ºC and 36.84 and 37.18 ºC, respectively. Eggshell temperatures at the equatorial region on days 10 (36.89 ºC) and 14 (37.57 ºC) of embryonic development were lower than the fixed temperature of the incubator (37.6 ºC). Fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs, and hatchability and embryonic mortality rates do not vary in relation to eggshell colour or the size of the spotted area.

This study was aimed at determining the effects of various levels of dietary olive cake meal (OCM) on certain blood parameters and breast muscle fatty acid and cholesterol levels. For this purpose, 400 day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks of both sexes were randomly assigned to four trial groups, each including five replicates of 20 animals. The quail were fed on a maize and soybean meal-based basal diet supplemented with 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% of OCM for six weeks. Dietary supplementation with 5% and 7.5% of OCM decreased total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the blood serum, and increased cholesterol levels in the breast muscle. Dietary supplementation with various levels of OCM decreased saturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels, and increased monounsaturated fatty acid and total unsaturated fatty acid levels in the breast muscle. As a result, it was concluded that, olive cake meal, which contains a high level of olive oil, could be incorporated in poultry feed at a level of 5%, owing to its beneficial effects of decreasing serum LDL cholesterol, which plays a major role in the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases, and in reducing saturated fatty acid levels in breast muscle.