Relationship Between Age and Body Weight at Sexual Maturity and Some Egg Production Traits In Three Varieties of Japanese Quails.

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the relationship between age and body weight at sexual maturity and some egg production traits in varieties of Japanese quails. A total of 60, five week old female Japanese quails were selected randomly from an existing flock in the Animal Pavillion, University of Ilorin. The birds were grouped into three according to their plumage colour variety: A & M white (White), Machurian gold (Brown) and Pharaoh quail (Black). Data obtained on age at sexual maturity (ASM), body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM), average egg weight (AEW), hen day production (HDP), weight of first twelve egg (WFTE) and body weight at peak production (BWPP) were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Phenotypic correlations between age at sexual maturity and some egg production traits were also determined. Age at sexual maturity was significantly lower (P 0.05) among varieties. HDP was highest in the White than the Brown and Black varieties and WFTE was lowest for the White and largest for Black variety. ASM was positively correlated with BWPP, WFTE but negatively correlated with HDP in all varieties. BWSM was positively correlated with AEW, BWPP. The result showed that early maturing quails had smaller body weight, higher HDP but smaller egg weight. It was concluded that plumage colour variety has an effect on ASM, BWSM, AEW, BWPP and HDP with the white variety having better ASM and HDP.