EVALUATION OF PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE QUAILS IN FLOOR PENS AND CONVENTIONAL CAGES WITH DIFFERENT STOCKING DENSITIES | ||||
| Egyptian Poultry Science Journal | ||||
| Article 2, Volume 36, Issue 3, September 2016, Page 669-683 PDF (550.27 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/epsj.2016.168800 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| Talaat Mostafa El-Sheikh | ||||
| Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Sohag | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| This study was designed (2 x 3) to evaluate the effects of different housing systems; (floor pens and battery cages) and stocking density (20, 30 and 60 birds/m2) from 4-16 weeks of age on the productive, reproductive performance and egg quality of Japanese quail. A total number of 220 chicks sexed Japanese quail (72 males & 148 females) at four weeks of age with 182 g average body weight were used. The chicks were randomly divided into two equal experimental groups according to housing systems (110 birds in each group which were 36 males and 74 females). The 1st chicks group were housed on a partitions litter floor (100×50 cm) provided with deep litter chopped wheat straw (3 cm), while the 2nd chicks group were housed in battery cages (100×50×40 cm). Each group was randomly divided into three densities of 20, 30 and 60 birds/ m2 with two replicates. The results showed highly significant differences (p≤0.05) between floor pens and battery cages on daily feed intake, FCR at (12-16 weeks of age), age and body weight at sexual maturity, egg surface area, fertility rate and hatchability percentage. Birds in low density of 20 birds/m2 significantly (p≤0.05) increased all productive traits except the age at sexual maturity, and yolk percentage were significantly (p≤0.05) decreased. From these results, it could be concluded that housing system of litter floor pens had significant positive effects on the productive, reproductive traits and egg quality traits of Japanese quail as compared to battery cages. Also, quails at low density (20 birds/m2) had better performance than those at high density (30 and 60 birds/m2). | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Housing systems; stocking densities; productive performance; egg quality | ||||
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