Influence of european quail breeders age on egg quality, incubation, fertility and progeny performance

Tc Santos,C Stefanello,Tv Carneiro,In Kaneko,Ccg Feitosa,Ae Murakami,Gv Moraes,Cal Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1516-635x170149-56

Abstract

The influence of age (85, 140, and 270 days) of European quails breeders on the egg quality and hatching, fertility and progeny performance was evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3x3 factorial arrangement (females' age x males' age), with ten replicates and six birds per experimental unit (four females and two males). Egg production and quality were determined during 3 periods of 14 days and incubation parameters were evaluated in eggs obtained in five consecutive days. The live performance of the progenies was analyzed until 35 days. There was no effect of male age or any interaction between the age of males and females for the evaluated variable. The female's age influenced egg production, egg weight and chick weight, with better results obtained for 140-d-old breeders. The age of females reduced the hatchability, increased the late mortality in incubated eggs, and had no effect on fertility, total embryo mortality or eggshell structure, when analyzed by electron microscopy. The number of sperm trapped in the outer perivitelline layer (sptz/mm²) was determined in 10 fertile eggs per experimental unit. Young females fertilized by young males (80 days) had reduced sptz/mm². Progeny live performance was not affected by breeder's age. Breeders with 270 days retain fertility; however, their egg production, weight and hatchability of fertilized eggs is reduced. In conclusion, European quail breeders with 140 days of age have better egg quality, hatching and breeding results.

Highlights

Brazilian quail production is predominantly focused on eggs
Quail breeders were housed in galvanized wire cages with nipple drinkers and trough feeders disposed in front of the cages
The age of females influenced the egg production, weight, Haugh unit, Table 2 – Egg quality and analysis of incubation according to the age of quail breeders (85, 140, and 270 days)

Summary

Introduction

Brazilian quail production is predominantly focused on eggs. There is an increasing interest on meat production, but production is still small and should increase slowly due to lack of habit of consuming this type of meat (Costa et al, 2008). Breeder groups were formed by four females and two males per experimental unit and the observations made at 85 (young), 140 (adult) and 270 (old) days of age. The age of females influenced the egg production, weight, Haugh unit, Table 2 – Egg quality and analysis of incubation according to the age of quail breeders (85, 140, and 270 days).

Results

Conclusion