Evaluation of induced molting methods on the livability and reproductive system regression of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the alternative method of zinc oxide and fasting to induce molt in Japanese quails. A total number of 190 48-week-old quails was used. They were at end of laying cycle, and presented low egg production. Quails molted by zinc oxide (Z) were fed a diet containing 25,000 ppm of zinc oxide, and received water ad libitum. Quails treated by fasting (F) received no feed and a day of water restriction. The treatment period was determined by the experimental level of body weight loss (BWL). Birds were submitted to different levels of BWL in order to analyze reproductive system regression (ovary + oviduct), and livability. The following groups were established according to their BWL: Control (untreated quails); F25 (25% BWL by F); F35 (35% BWL by F); Z25 (25% BWL by Z), and Z35 (35% BWL by Z). Z25, Z35, and F35 presented no significant differences in reproductive system weights after molting; however, their weights were lower than F. Z, Z, and F presented the following livability: 97.5, 72.5, and 90%. Japanese quails treated by the alternative method of zinc oxide, presenting body weight loss of 25%, showed low mortality rate, and adequate regression of the reproductive organs

Japon Bıldırcınlarında Yumurtlama Döneminde Yeme Rezene (Foeniculum Vulgare Mill.) İlavesinin Yumurta Verimi, Kesim ve Karkas Özellikleri, Bağırsaklarda Parazit Oluşumu ve Spermatolojik Kalite Üzerine Etkisi

“…Accordingly, the oviduct weight of female quails in the fennel-supplemented GF2 and GF4 groups was numerically higher than the control group. The female quail oviduct weight values of the control and fennel-supplemented groups were found to be higher than the 7.06 g value reported by Teixeir et al (24) for Japanese quails at 48 weeks of age. It is a fact that this difference may be due to the age and live weight difference of the broodstock quail that was used in the study.…”

Bacteriological investigation of microorganisms (Salmonella sp. and other Enterobacteriaceae) in common quails (Coturnix coturnix) submitted to different forced-molting procedures

“…Forced molting is still not commonly applied in quail egg production (Garcia et al, 2001), although a few published studies have reported its effects on production and physiological aspects (Zamprônio et al, 1996;Garcia et al, 2002.;Teixeira et al, 2007;Mesquita Filho, 2008;Faitarone et al, 2008). Scientific data on the effects of forced molting on quail health are lacking.…”

Experimental infection of Salmonella Enteritidis in quails submitted to forced molting by feed fasting

“…However, there a few studies with quails. Some recent papers have been published evaluated the effect of forced molting on production, reproduction, and health parameters (Garcia et al, 2001, Teixeira et al, 2007, Faitarone et al, 2008, Arora & Vatsalyia, 2011Aljumaily et al, 2012, Teixeira et al, 2013. Interestingly, despite the close relation between molting and salmonellosis, this issue has not been explored yet.…”