Research

The effect of parental age and egg weight on fertility, hatchability and day-old chick weight of Japanese quail(Cortunix cortunix japonica)

Dudusola I O

Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife.

 Author Email: iadeogun@oauife.edu.ng ; dipodudu2000@yahoo.com
 

Accepted 24 March, 2013

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effects of the parental age and egg weight of Japanese quail on the weight of one day old chick, fertility and hatchability of incubated eggs. Three hundred and sixty Japanese quail eggs were obtained from 22 and 36 weeks old quails. The eggs were weighed and grouped into 2 categories: Light (7.5-9.5g) and Heavy (9.6 – 12g). The weight of the chicks were recorded, percent fertility and hatchability were also calculated. The data was analyzed with SAS (2003) and means were separated with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The parental age was found to have a significant effect on hatchability and fertility of incubated eggs (P<0.001) and the effect of egg weight groups on the weight of day - old chick was found to be significant (P<0.05). Results obtained from this study reveal that the parental age of quail had a significant effect on the egg weight, fertility and hatchability of incubated eggs. It was also observed that with increasing egg weight, chick weight increased.

Keywords:  Japanese quail, Egg weight, Chick weight, Fertility, Hatchability