Research on the Influence of the Light and Sexing on Growth Performance and Slaughter Results at Young Quails from Mixed Baloteşti Population of Eggs-Meat

Abstract

The purposes of determining the influence of the light and sexing on growth performance and slaughter results at young quails from Baloteşti population, was organized an experiment on 150 quails between age 28 and 70 days. The chicks were divided into two groups (control and experimental), and growth and slaughter performance were determined separately by sex. Have studied 2 lighting programs, a program of continuous lighting with photoperiod duration of 16 hours (16L+8N, control group) and a program of lighting with asymmetric hour intervals with photoperiod duration of 16 hours (10L+2N+6L+6N, experimentally group). Males and females from the experimental group were recorded average performances of growth higher during the period 28-70 days. Live weight at the age of 70 days was higher with 7.54%, average weight gain was higher with 14.86% and feed conversion rate was lower with 13.51% at males from experimental group compared to males from the control group. Also, the live weight at the age of 70 days was higher with 18.09%; average weight gain was higher with 35.12%, while feed conversion rate was reduced 30.08% on females from the experimental group compared to females from the control group.The results of the slaughter at the age of 70 days were superior in the case of females from both groups versus males. The average weight of the carcase was higher with 17.53% in case of females than that of males from the experimental group, and the carcase yield was 65.37% at females and 65.56% for males. Also, the average weight of the carcase was higher with 5.08% in case of females compared to that of males from the control group, and the carcase yield was 64.20% to females and 66.70% on males. Superior results recorded in the case of females and males from the experimental group recommended the program of lighting with asymmetric hour intervals in the growth of youth quail. Also the higher slaughter results recorded in the case of females of the two groups recommended them in the meat production through a broiler of quail that combine advantages in the production of both males and females.

Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm

“…The domesticated female Japanese quail can reach adult weight at 5–6 weeks after hatching (Ionità et al., 2010), and become sexually mature at around 44–56 days of age (El‐Sheikh, 2016) or even before (around 35–40 days of age) with commercial lines. This can be linked to management factors such as housing system and stocking density, with feed and light management being incongruently changed as applied in laying hens e.g.…”