Beak trimming and stocking densities for laying and performance traits and behavioral patterns in Japanese quails

Daniela Paz Aguiar,Joyce Zanella,Lorena Zullian Andreoti,Jean Kaique Valentim,Jonatan Mikhail Del Solar Velarde,Heder José D’Ávila Lima,Tatiana Marques Bittencourt,Isabelli Dias Brito Pereira

doi:10.15381/rivep.v32i5.19248

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the productive performance, egg quality and behavioral patterns of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with and without beak trimming submitted to two stocking densities. The study was conducted for 84 days. In total, 196 Japanese quails were randomly allocated to a 2 x 2 factorial scheme: submitted or not to beak trimming procedure and low (237.5 cm²/bird) and high stocking density (316.7 cm/bird) and its interaction. Eight replicates per treatment were used, totaling 32 experimental units. Collected data were submitted to analysis of variance and, means of parametric data were compared by Tukey test (p<0.05); otherwise non-parametric analysis of variance were applied for non-parametric data of quail behavior. Lower feed intake was observed in the high stocking density group (p<0.05) but did not affect other parameters (p>0.05). There was no interaction (p>0.05) between beak trimming and stocking density over performance and egg quality. Quails without beak trimming housed in higher density showed more aggressiveness and stress. Egg quality as well as performance parameters of Japanese quails are not affected by applying 316.7 cm2/bird density.

Highlights

Quail farming has shown a rapid development in recent years due several advantages such as fast growth, small areas to raise the birds, early sexual maturity, high egg production, low feed intake and high resistance to diseases
Laying quails housed in high density showed higher interaction with cage and aggressiveness
Quails housed in high density showed lower feed intake, probably due to the higher number of animals per area, leading to greater competition for space in the feeders (Castilho et al, 2015); despite lower feed consumption in the high-density treatments, there was no significant difference in egg production, feed conversion by mass and dozens of eggs produced

Summary

Introduction

Quail farming has shown a rapid development in recent years due several advantages such as fast growth, small areas to raise the birds, early sexual maturity, high egg production, low feed intake and high resistance to diseases. In order to reduce production costs, poultry industry increases birds stocking density as alternative to improve flock profitability (Lima et al, 2012). In commercial poultry facilities, growing birds in cages on high density has become a common issue in management, aiming to reduce both stocking costs and equipment per bird. Domestic quails still have many wild birds’ characteristics, and the confinement intensifies perverse behaviours such as aggressive pecking, leading to feather pecking and cannibalism, increasing mortality and affecting the flock viability (Pelicia et al, 2019).

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