Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sex on biometry and morphological indices of Japanese quails. A total of one hundred and fifteen finisher quails (115) comprising 30 males and 85 females of ten (10) weeks of age were used for this study. The quails were procured from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State Nigeria. They were managed in a deep litter system of housing from day old to finisher phase (10 weeks). The sex of the quails were identified by the production of cloacal foam following the standard protocol. Female quails recorded higher (P<0.05) body weight, massiveness and appears to be better for long leggedness than their male counterpart. The lower values observed for the female quails for long leggedness is an indication of blockier appearance a characteristics for meatiness. The results of the Pearson correlation for the male quails indicates that there were strong positive correlation for Body weight(BW) and Body length(BL)(r=0.465 at P<0.01), BW and Breast circumference(BC), BL and BC, Foot length(FL) and Wing length(WL) (r=0.577, 0.429 and 0.451 at P<0.05). For the female quails, strong positive correlation were observed for BC and WL, FL and WL (r=0.339, 0.332 at P<0.01), BL and FL, FL and TLL (r=0.270, 0.263 P<0.05). There was also a strong negative correlation observed for Thigh circumference (TC) and FL (r=0.406 at P<0.01). The result of ?2 for the sex was also significant (P<0.05). This findings would aid in the selection and breeding programme for quails? improvement.
Highlights
Japanese quail have competitive advantages over other minor poultry species such as early sexual maturity, short generation interval, rapid growth rate, and high reproductive capacity (Varkoohi et al, 2011)
No significant difference were recorded for the other parameters measured
The lower values observed for the female quails for long leggedness is an indication of blockier appearance, a good characteristics for meatiness
Summary
Japanese quail have competitive advantages over other minor poultry species such as early sexual maturity, short generation interval, rapid growth rate, and high reproductive capacity (Varkoohi et al, 2011). In female birds the increase in live weight goes on until the 6th week of age and they generally start laying eggs during this period (Alkan et al, 2008b). It is easier to discriminate the sex from the 6th week of age due to the larger body shape of female birds as well as through observing typical behaviour of male birds (Brunström et al, 2009). This is too late since quails reach a weight suitable for sales markets after 5-6 weeks. This study aimed at determining the effect of sex on biometry and morphological indices of Japanese quails
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