Japanese quail farming for socio-economic development

S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin

Poultry

Other than Chicken

Chicken

Broiler

Layer

Colour broiler

Desi chicken

Ducks

Geese

Turkeys

Guinea fowl

Quail

Emu

Ostrich

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• Coturnix family (Genus: Coturnix)
• Bobwhite family (Genus: Colinus)
• California family (Genus: Callipepla)
• Other quail families

Coturnix family (12 subspecies)

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1. The Eurasian or Pharaoh Quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix)
2. The European quail (Coturnix coturnix communis)
3. The Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
4. The Harlequin quail (Coturnix coturnix delegorguei)
5. The Button or Chinese quail (Coturnix coturnix chinensis)

History of Japanese (Coturnix) Quail

• Coturnix coturnix or common quail ⇒ Originally migratory birds of Asia, Africa and Europe
• Interbreeding subspecies ⇒ domestic J.Q.
• The domesticated J.Q. ⇒ From China to Japan across the Korean bridge (During 11th century)
• The first written records of domesticated quail in Japan ⇒ 12th century
• J.Q. initially developed for song.

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• Japanese Emperor ⇒ relief from tuberculosis ⇒ by eating quail meat ⇒ Highest proliferation ⇒ 19th century

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• Between 1910 and 1941 ⇒ The period of “imperial expansion” of Japanese quail in Japanese history

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Japanese quail – Leading countries

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India

• 1974 – Introduced first in Central Avian Research Institute (CARI).

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• AVM Poultry Breeding and Hatcheries Limited, Coimbatore - Largest Private Quail Breeder in India (Not now)

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• Japan
• Italy
• France
• Spain

• America
• European countries
• Saudi Arabia

• Wild quail  Protected under Wild life act
• Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)  Can be reared in farms
• For J.Q. farming - License is needed  from the regional forest range office.
• The purpose of license - It should be procured from a recognized source and not a trapped bird from wild life.

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S.C. Edwin

Characteristics of J. quail meat

• Japanese quail meat is dark, tender, and tasty
• The dressing percentage is about 75 per cent with meat to bone ratio of 3.22
• Breast and thighs contribute nearly 68 per cent of the total carcass
• Very low abdominal fat (0.25%) compared to commercial broiler (2.7%)

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Special qualities of J. quail meat

Excellent source of

• pyridoxine
• niacin
• thiamin
• riboflavin
• pantothenic acid
• minerals and
• essential fatty acids

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• In Ayurvedic medicine ⇒ treatment for
• respiratory and
• neurological problems

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Proximate composition

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Special qualities of J. quail egg

• “Vitamin Bomb”

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• More amount of B-complex vitamins, Vitamin – A, D & E

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• More amount of Fe, P, Ca, S and Zn

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• Medicinal treatments – Anaemia, Diabetics, Ulcers, Asthma, Tuberculosis, Sexual impotence and Stress

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Comparison of quail & chicken egg;

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Sex differentiation in Japanese Quail

• Male - cinnamon-colored feathers on the breast
• Female – Dark colour spots on the breast region
• Females are heavier than males

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Japanese Quail

Reasons for its fast growth

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1. Small size
2. Rapid growth
3. Early onset of egg production
4. Less capital investment
5. Quick returns
6. Can be reared for both meat and egg production

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Performance of Namakkal Quail-1 with other quails

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S.C. Edwin

NAMAKKAL QUAIL-1 ADULTS

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NAMAKKAL QUAIL-1 - EGGS

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NAMAKKAL QUAIL-1 - CHICKS

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Research works on J. Quail

Ph.D. - 3

S.C. Edwin

1. Effect of enzyme supplementation on utilization of Non-Starch Polysaccharides (NSP) and Phytin phosphorus in Japanese quail diets – By S.C. Edwin – 2002.
2. Effect of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Rich oils on performance of Japanese Quail – By G. Raj Manohar – 2005.
3. Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium supplementation on performance of Japanese quail – By P. Chitra – 2005.

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M.V.Sc. - 3

S.C. Edwin

1. Study on the growth and production performance of four different lines of Japanese quail – By P. Subramaniam - 2004
2. Effect of feed restriction on growth and reproductive performance of Japanese quail – By N. Vadivukkarasi – 2006
3. Reducing crude protein by supplementing L – Lysine and DL Methionine in Japanese quail rations – By Binoj Chacko – 2006.

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TNSCST Project Scheme - 1

S.C. Edwin

1. Reducing meat and egg cholesterol by adding spice mixture in Japanese quail diets. – U.G. Students’ Project – 2005-06

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Different sections in J. Quail production

• Breeder quail management
• Care of hatching eggs
• Incubator management
• Commercial quail management
• Marketing

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Breeder J. quail management

• J. quail lay eggs at around 6 weeks of age
• For maximum fertility male : female ratio is 1:3
• Hatching eggs can be collected up to 45 weeks of age
• During laying period 16 hours total light is needed
• J. quail lay eggs between 5 and 7 p.m.

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Care of hatching eggs

• Egg weight – 12 to 14 g
• Thinner eggshell than chicken egg
• Mosaic nature of shell colour
• Eggshell sanitation – By formalin fumigation
• Egg storage temperature – 65⁰F

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Incubator management

• Incubation of J. quail egg is similar to incubation of chicken egg
• Total incubation period – 16 to 18 days
• Two types of incubator
• Setter (First 14/15 days)
• Hatcher (Last 2/3 days)
• Approximate hatchability – 75%

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SETTER CUM HATCHER

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SETTER (Outside-view)

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SETTER (Inside-view)

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WALK-IN INCUBATORS

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HATCHER

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Commercial J. quail management

• Brooding similar to broilers
• Day-old J. quail weight – 9-10 g
• First week mortality
• Drowning in the water
• Huddling & stampeding
• Feeding – Two types
• Quail starter (0-2 weeks)
• Quail finisher (3-4 weeks)

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S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin

J. Quail diseases (?)

• Colibacillosis
• Coccidiosis
• Ulcerative enteritis

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Vaccination (?)

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Present trend in J. quail marketing

• Comparatively high demand for J. quail meat in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
• Very high demand for J. quail eggs in Kerala
• Demand prevails through out the year

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S.C. Edwin

S.C. Edwin