Effects of Saline Drinking Water on Carcass Characteristics and Litter Moisture Content of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

C URRENT study was performed to investigate the effects of added different levels of common salt in the water on carcass characteristics and litter moisture of Japanese quail. Six hundred one-day old Japanese quail chicks(8.61±0.21 grams) divided to six treatments and five replicates of 20 birds per experimental units, based on completely randomized design for 42 days. All treatments fed the same diets and only the amount of sodium chloride in the water was different. Control treatment consumed conventional drinking water containing 233 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) and other treatments consumed water supplemented with 1.32, 2.80, 3.80, 5.56 and 7.12 grams of NaCl per liter which were equal to 1233, 2233, 3233, 4233 and 5233 ppm for other experimental groups, respectively. At the end of experiment, four chicks from each replicate slaughtered and then carcass traits measured. The results showed that pre-slaughter weight, carcass and breast yield as well asdry matter content of thighs, breast, and ash content of breast,were significantly affected by water salinity. Higher amounts of TDS in drinking water often resulted in lower pre-slaughter weight and carcass and breast yield; but greater dry matter content of thighs and ash content of thighs and breast observed in tested Japanese quails. Litter moisture content also significantly increased by increasing TDS levels in drinking water. Inconclusion, in order to maintain carcass characteristics and litter qualityof quailsat the safe range, amount of TDS in drinking water should not be more than 2233 ppm.

Physiological variables and quality of quail eggs supplemented with magnesium in water under thermal stress

“…The increasing levels of magnesium in the water did not change the respiratory rate of the quails, which was within the physiological limits for species from 20 to 30 mov min -1 (Ribeiro et al, 2016;Rodrigues et al, 2016). Maintaining respiratory rate maintains blood pH, preventing respiratory alkalosis and carbon dioxide losses, which can affect partial pressure, leading to a drop in the concentration of carbonic acid and hydrogen, and affecting the electrolyte balance of birds (Khalilipour et al, 2019). Even with the highest amount of magnesium in the water, there was no change in the feces and urine of the birds, which were within normal limits.…”

Thermographic evaluation and sensible heat emission of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) kept at different temperatures

“…Quail farming is a growing activity in arid and semi-arid regions, birds that are adapted to these regions, with small size, early sexual maturity and high productivity, where small spaces and little labour are used for their production (Khalilipour, Maheri;Shaddel, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2021;Furtado et al, 2022). Quails reared in Brazil's semi-arid region during the hottest times of the day can become heat-stressed, requiring corrective measures in management and facilities to maintain their production (Silva et al, 2022;Silva et al, 2023) sendo esta região caracterizada por um balanço hídrico negativo resultante de uma precipitação média anual inferior a 800 mm, uma insolação de 2800 h/ano, uma temperatura média anual entre 23 e 28 °C, uma evaporação de 2000 mm/ano e uma humidade relativa do ar de cerca de 60% (Gois et al, 2017;Hussein, Abd El-Ati, & Saleem, 2020).…”

Productive performance, egg quality and the morphometry of the organs of Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix japônica) kept at different temperatures

“…Quail farming is an expanding activity in tropical regions, which is characterized by strong insolation, high air temperatures of up to 40 °C (Furtado et al, 2018) and sparse and irregular rainfall (Abdelsattar et al, 2020). The Japanese quail is a bird adapted to hot climates, presenting small size, precocity, productivity, requiring small spaces for production and little labor (Khalilipour et al, 2019;Hajati et al, 2020;Ismail et al, 2020).…”