Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

Abstract

The meat of the quail is one of the most delicious types, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is useful in treating nervous diseases. In the present investigation, based on their live body weight, 270 genetically-enhanced white quail chicks of mixed sex were randomly assigned to three groups, each with 90 chicks. The first group's birds were slaughtered at 28 days of age. The birds in the second group were slaughtered at 31 days, and the birds in the third group were slaughtered at 34 days. Results showed no significant difference between the various groups in the overall mortality rate index at the end of each fattening stage (P > 0.05). There were substantial variations (P ≤ 0.05) in the average live weight index between the first and both groups at each group's marketing age. With increasing marketing age, body weight increases. Quail chicks raised for 34 days received the lowest EPEF (28.90 points), followed by those raised for 31 days and 28 days, which received 33.37 and 37.32 points, respectively. The economic feasibility of the three groups, no significant differences in the profit index were observed at the age of 28 days. Compared to the marketing age of the other two groups, it was noted that the profit index decreased as the birds advanced in age. Delaying marketing to 31 days leads to a decrease in profit by 5.7%, and delaying marketing to 34 days reduces the profit index to 26.36% compared to marketing at 28 days. For blood haematology parameters, a significant increase in the studied indicators with the age of the birds was observed through the study of blood indicators. Still, it did not reach the significance level. It could be concluded that 28 days is the ideal marketing age for the enhanced white quails, as it yielded the highest economic return and the best performance.