Effect of Vitamin A on Growth, Egg Production and Reproduction of Japanese Quail

Abstract

THE Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) continues to receive increasing emphasis as a research animal since it grows rapidly, matures at an early age, and is a prolific egg producer. Although the Japanese quail has been advocated for many areas of avian research (Shellenberger and Newell, 1965), only limited information is available on its nutritional requirements.Fox and Harrison (1964) and Kienholtz et al. (1965) used these birds in a study of zinc deficiency and absorption. Nelson et al. (1964) have investigated calcium and phosphorus requirements of the adult bird, while Howes (1965) reported on the protein-energy interrelationships for the growing and adult Japanese quail. However, vitamin requirements of this species apparently have not been reported. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of vitamin A on growth, egg production, and reproduction of the Japanese quail.EXPERIMENTAL METHODSNewly hatched Japanese quail chicks from a stock colony maintained at …