Japanese Quail Hens Research Articles

Impact of early feed restriction and continued supplementation with coated organic acid and essential oils on sustainability of laying performance, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, immunity status, and gut microbiota of Japanese quail hens

Abstract Three hundred and sixty, 42-day-old Japanese quail (JQ) hens were randomly divided into six experimental groups with 5 replicates/group. Each replicate consisted of 12 birds (8 females and 4 males). During the growing period, chickens were fed restricted (FR) during only the second week of age at days 7, 9, 11, and 13. Three levels of FR were applied: 0.0 (control), 12.5 (12.5FR), and 25.0% (25FR) of the ad libitum intake of chickens measured on the previous day (groups 1, 2 and 3). In the other three groups (4, 5 and 6) the control, 12.5FR and 25.0FR diets were supplemented with coated organic acid + essential oils (COAWEO ) at 100 g/ton feed. The trial lasted from 6 to 18 weeks of age. Feed intake was significantly reduced by 12.5% FR compared with the control group. FR improved all external and internal egg quality of JQ hens except for egg weight, while albumen % decreased in the group fed 12.5FR diet. Coated organic acid with essential oils did not affect all JQ hens’ external and internal egg quality. Feed restriction did not affect fertility, pipped and dead chicks, and hatchability, as total and fertile egg percentage. COAWEO increased fertility and hatchability percentage. FR did not affect blood serum biochemistry and immunity characteristics except for high density lipoprotein (HDL) and hemagglutination inhibition test for infectious bursal disease virus (HI IBDV). Coated organic acid with essential oils did not affect quail blood characteristics but significantly decreased total lipids and increased IL6 at 18 weeks of age. Dietary COAWEO decreased E. coli, Clostridia, and Salmonella while increasing Lactobacillus counts. It can be concluded that 25.0% FR supplemented with COAWEO considerably improved the sustainability of productive performance of JQ hens without adverse effects on egg production, quality, fertility and hatchability traits, serum biochemistry and immune markers, and gut microbiota.

Effects of maternal methionine supplementation on the response of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks to heat stress.

This study investigated the hypothesis that methionine supplementation of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) hens can reduce the effects of oxidative stress and improve the performance of the offspring exposed to heat stress during growth. For that, the quail hens were fed with three diets related to the methionine supplementation: methionine-deficient diet (Md); diet supplemented with the recommended methionine level (Met1); and diet supplemented with methionine above the recommended level (Met2). Their chicks were identified, weighed, and housed according to the maternal diet group from 1 to 14 d of age. On 15 d of age, chicks were weighed and divided into two groups: thermoneutral ambient (constant temperature of 23 °C) and intermittent heat stress ambient (daily exposure to 34 °C for 6 h). Methionine-supplemented (Met1 and Met2) hens had higher egg production, better feed conversion ratio, higher hatchability of total and fertile eggs, and offspring with higher body weight. Supplemented (Met1 and Met2) hens showed greater expression of glutathione synthase (GSS) and methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) genes, greater total antioxidant capacity, and lower lipid peroxidation in the liver. The offspring of hens fed the Met2 diet had lower death rate (1 to 14 d), higher weight on 15 d of age, weight gain, and better feed conversion ratio from 1 to 14 d of age. Among chicks reared under heat stress, the progeny of methionine-supplemented hens had higher weight on 35 d, weight gain, expression of GSS, MSRA, and thermal shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes, and total antioxidant capacity in the liver, as well as lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. Positive correlations between expression of glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPX7) and MSRA genes in hens and offspring were observed. Our results show that maternal methionine supplementation contributes to offspring development and performance in early stages and that, under conditions of heat stress during growth, chicks from methionine-supplemented hens respond better to hot environmental conditions than chicks from nonsupplemented hens. Supplementation of quail hens diets with methionine promoted activation of different metabolic pathways in offspring subjected to stress conditions.

Performance of Egg Laying Japanese Quail Hens Fed Low Protein Diet Supplemented with Protease and/or Formic Acid

This study aimed to decrease the cost of laying rations by lowering protein as it’s the most expensive constituent in the diet. So, the research stated to investigate the effect of incorporating protease and/or formic acid as feed additives into a low protein isocaloric diet of laying Japanese quail hens on the productive performance, some egg quality parameters and economic efficiency. It was performed on 120 of 5–6-week-old healthy Japanese quail hens (weighed 268g7.06±) and randomly distributed into five groups (3 replicates per group). G1 (control with basal layer quail diet 20% protein), G2 (17% protein diet without protease enzyme or formic acid), G3 (17% protein diet + 0.05% protease enzyme), G4 (17% protein diet + 0.5% formic acid), G5 (17% protein diet + 0.05% protease enzyme + 0.5% formic acid). The experimental period lasted for 12 weeks with two weeks of adaptation before this period. For each replicate, daily egg number, daily egg weight, and egg mass as well as weekly feed intake were recorded. At the end of each week, eggs were collected from each replicate to evaluate egg quality. Mean egg production, egg albumin %, eggshell % and egg yolk % in all groups do not differ significantly with control but G2 was numerically higher than control in egg production, egg mass, FCR, egg shell %, egg yolk % and feed intake. G2 significantly has the heavier egg weight among groups (p < 0.05) as the average egg weights were 11.77g and 12.48g in control and G2 respectively. G3 was being the highest in feed intake and egg albumin percent than the other groups. G4 was being the highest in eggshell percent. Triglycerides per the whole yolk were lower in all groups than in the control. Cholesterol (mg)/whole yolk was low in G2 and G3. FCR was improved in G5. G2 had the highest net revenue and economic efficiency (48 LE&114.3%) in compare with control (46 LE&106.98%), while the values were 47.1LE&107.3%, 43.3LE&101.4% and 46.2 LE&105.5% for groups G3, G4 and G5 respectively. It could be concluded that feeding laying Japanese quail hens on diet containing 17% protein without protease enzyme or formic acid did not differ significantly from those fed on a control diet containing 20% protein. Moreover, it showed the highest net revenue and numerical improvement than the control group regarding egg production, egg mass, FCR, eggshell %, egg yolk %, and cholesterol in egg yolk.

Performance of Egg Laying Japanese Quail Hens Fed Low Protein Diet Supplemented with Protease and/or Formic Acid

Performance of Egg Laying Japanese Quail Hens Fed Low Protein Diet Supplemented with Protease and/or Formic Acid

Reproductive Indices of Naturally Mated and Artificially Inseminated Quail Hens (Coturnix japonica): Is Artificial Insemination of Japanese Quail Hens Feasible in a Local Setting?

Naturally mated and artificially inseminated Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) hens’ eggs reproductive indices were investigated to evaluate natural mating or artificial insemination techniques for breeding quails in local farms. A total of 141 (108 hens and 33 cocks) matured quails of about 11 weeks of age were used for the experiment, of which 54 hens were inseminated with Citric-quail egg albumen extended semen collected from 15 fertile cocks. Another 54 hens were naturally mated by another 18 fertile cocks in a ratio of one cock to three hens (1:3). Eggs collected from both naturally mated and artificially inseminated birds were incubated for 18 days. The percentage of incubated eggs that were fertile when candled on the 7th and 12th day and hatch-out analysis after the 18th day of incubation tested fertility. Hatchability was tested by the percentage number of fertile eggs that hatched. Naturally mated and artificially inseminated hens’ eggs had a fertility of 84.0 % and 73.3 %, and a hatchability of 82.5 % and 85.5 %, respectively. The study revealed no significant difference in the frequency of fertile or hatched Japanese quail eggs (χ2 cal &lt; χ critical at 5% or 1% level of probability). Naturally mated and artificially inseminated birds had relative fertile egg rates of 53.4 % and 46.6 %, respectively, and relative egg hatching rates of 52.5% and 47.5 %, respectively. Artificial insemination had the advantage of introducing the same volume of semen to more quail hens than a single cock in a natural mating process. However, natural mating was recommended over artificial insemination in the study area because of the technical constraints that required more workforce and amenities in the insemination process. The authors recommended research on developing restraint instruments and non-electrical semen storage methods for quail birds. The authors also proposed a restraint model for quail birds

The Acute Pharmacological Manipulation of Dopamine Receptors Modulates Judgment Bias in Japanese Quail.

We have studied the effects of dopamine antagonists and agonists on Japanese quail behavior in the spatial judgment task. Twenty-four Japanese quail hens were trained in the spatial discrimination task to approach the feeder placed in the rewarded location (Go response, feeder containing mealworms) and to not approach the punished location (No-Go response, empty feeder plus aversive sound). In a subsequent spatial judgment task, the proportion of Go responses as well as approach latencies to rewarded, punished, and three ambiguous locations (near-positive, middle, near-negative, all neither rewarded nor punished) were assessed in 20 quail hens that successfully mastered the discrimination task. In Experiment 1, each bird received five treatments (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg of dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390, 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg of dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol, and saline control) in a different order, according to a Latin square design. All drugs were administered intramuscularly 15 min before the spatial judgment test, with 2 days break between the treatments. Both antagonists caused a significant dose-dependent increase in the approach latencies as well as a decrease in the proportion of Go responses. In Experiment 2, with the design analogous to Experiment 1, the hens received again five treatments (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg of dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg of dopamine D2 receptor agonist bromocriptine, and saline control), applied intramuscularly 2 h before the test. The agonists did not have any significant effect on approach latencies and the proportion of Go responses in the spatial judgment task, as compared to the saline control, except for 10.0 mg/kg SKF 38393, which caused a decrease in the proportion of Go responses. The approach latency and the proportion of Go responses were affected by the cue location in both experiments. Our data suggest that the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor blockade leads to a decrease in the reward expectation and the negative judgment of stimuli. The effect of dopamine receptor activation is less clear. The results reveal that dopamine receptor manipulation alters the evaluation of the reward and punishment in the spatial judgment task.

Actions of edamame soybean isoflavones in an avian model: the Japanese quail (Cortunix-cortunix japónica)

Isoflavone are soybean compounds that possess weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. The present study examined the effect of extract isoflavone of edamame soybean supplementation into the poultry ration to increasing production and reproduction performance of Japanese quail hens. The research was an experimental observation applying Complete Randomized Design. The treatment done was supplementation of the extract isoflavone into the ration, quantitatively, i.e P0 : 0% (group control), P1 : 0.1%, P2 : 0.3%, and P3 : 05%, in every single treatment consists of 5 repetitions of 10 quails each. The level isoflavone of edamame soybean were 0.0015% for deidzein and 0.0013% for genistein. The treatment was done for fourteen days old quail until its sexual maturity. Observation was conducted for the growth, feed intake, age at sexual maturity, weight of the first laying egg, cholesterol egg and performance of production in quail hens. The results of experiment indicate that the addition of extract isoflavone in the ration did not exert an effect on reproductive performance, and egg production of female quail (p>0.05). There was a tendency that the supplementation of extract isoflavone could increase in sexual maturity and reduce cholesterol egg of quail. It is concluded that the supplementation of extract isoflavone of edamame soybean up to 0.5% has not been able to improve production and reproductive performance and reduce cholesterol levels of quail egg.

Effects of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf meal on performance, carcass, organs, eggs and meat of Japanese quails

There are several reports on the utilisation of Moringa oleifera in poultry nutrition due to its essential bioactive compounds yet, little is known about its influence on Japanese quail eggs and meat qualities. Hence, this study was aimed at examining the performance, eggs and meat qualities of Japanese quail hens fed M. oleifera leaf. To achieve this, 240 Japanese quail chicks were allocated to three dietary treatments: D1: control, 0.0% (without M. oleifera leaf meal), D2: (0.5% M. oleifera leaf meal) and D3: (1% M. oleifera leaf meal). Data on performance, carcass, organs, eggs and meat qualities were collected and subjected to ANOVA at 0.05. Results revealed that feed consumption was lowest (2,701g) in D1 and highest (2,800g) in D2, carcass weight varied from 100 – 100.67g, thigh weight (12.66 – 13.58g) and breast weight was highest (40.41g) in D3. Liver weight was lowest (3.25g) in D1, kidney was largest (0.91g) in D3 whereas, the heart, gizzard and spleen weights ranged from 1.00 – 1.16g, 3.08 – 3.50g and 0.04 – 0.08g, respectively. In the eggs, crude protein (10.94%), crude fat (6.71%), ash (1.36%), high-density lipoprotein (96.12mg/100g) and low-density lipoprotein (120.67mg/100g) were highest in D1. Total cholesterol (364.08mg/100g) and triglycerides (147.27mg/100g) were least in D1 and the caloric value varied from 1.46 – 1.47kcal/g. In the meat, crude protein (17.14%) and energy value (1.96kcal/g) were best in D2 but, crude fat (12.62%), ash (2.85%) and carbohydrates (1.31%) were superior in D3. In both eggs and meat, no crude fibre (0.0%) was detected. In any case, all the parameter values were within the normal ranges given in healthy Japanese quails at similar age. Consequently, inclusion of M. oleifera leaf meal at 1.0% in Japanese quail diets might not depress performance, affect carcass quality, cause organs dysfunctions but may improve nutritional quality of the eggs and meat.

Effect of diets containing raw and processed pigeon pea seed meal on external and internal egg quality characteristics of laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica ) Ke

Three hundred and sixty, sixweek old Japanese quail hens (Coturnix coturnix japonica)were used to evaluate the effect of processed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed meal (PPSM) on egg quality characteristics of laying birds. The processingmethodswere soaking (24, 48 and 72 hours), fermentation (72 hours), boiling (60minutes) and roasting (30minutes). The birds were divided into eight groups of 45 per treatment each replicated three times with 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The birds were raised in cages measuring 75cm × 75cm × 60cm. Eight experimental diets were formulated containing processed PPSM at 30 % of diet representing T1 (control), T2 (raw PPSM), T3 (soaked PPSM for 24 hours), T4 (soaked PPSMfor 48 hours), T5 (soaked PPSMfor 72 hours), T6 (soaked PPSM for 24 hours and fermented for 72 hours), T7 (boiling for 60minutes) and T8 (roasted PPSM for 30 minutes) respectively. The experiment lasted for 20 weeks. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The results showed that processed PPSM had no significant (P&gt;0.05) effect on eggweight, egg height, egg diameter, egg shape index, egg shell thickness aswell as albumen height, albumen diameter, albumen weight, yolk diameter, yolk weight, yolk index and haugh unit across the dietary treatments. It is concluded that raw and processed PPSM had no significant (P&gt;0.05) effect on the egg quality characteristics of laying quails. In addition, inclusion of raw PPSM in quail diets posed no threat to the health status of the birds.

Variation in quality of newly hatched chicks from Japanese breeder quail fed guava extract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of guava extract as a dietary supplement for Japanese quail hens on incubation parameters, intestinal development, and the quality of newly hatched chicks. Six hundred and forty-eight eggs were collected from Japanese quail hens fed diets with 0.0, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 g/kg of guava extract. The study consisted of four treatments, six replicates, and 27 eggs per replicate. The guava extract contained 2% ellagic acid. The eggs were incubated at 37.5 °C and 65% relative air humidity. The hatch window, hatchability, embryo development in unhatched eggs, quality of newly hatched quails, and intestinal histomorphometry of a duodenum segment were evaluated. Differences among the treatments in hatchability and the hatch window were not significant. The guava extract did not affect mortality rate, live pecking, dead pecking, and contaminated and inverted eggs. The number of infertile eggs was lower in the groups that received 3.0 and 9.0 g/kg of extract in their diets. Use of up to 3.0 g/kg of guava extract in the diet increased the weight of both eggs and newly hatched chicks. The quality score of newly hatched quail was similar across treatments. The inclusion of 3.0 g/kg of guava extract in the diet of Japanese quail breeder hens increased the hatchling weight of the chicks and improved the villus to crypt ratio of their duodenum.&#x0D; Keywords: embryology, embryo metabolism, hatchery, incubation, breeder nutrition

The effects of dietary hot pepper Capsicum annuum waste powder supplementation on egg production traits of Japanese quail layers

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dietary hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) waste supplementation on egg production performance and quality in Japanese quail hens (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 192, seven-week-old Japanese quail layers were divided into 4 treatment groups of similar mean weight (304±0.5 g), each comprising 12 subgroups (including 1 male and 3 females). Treatment birds were fed on experimental basal layer diet supplemented with 1, 2 or 4 g hot pepper waste powder (HPWP) per kg diet. The laying performance was determined by recording feed intake, egg weight, daily egg production, and biweekly egg quality. Results showed that HPWP supplementation to layer diet did not have any significant (P&gt;0.05) effects on body weight and feed conversion ratio, while it had significant effects on feed intake (P&lt;0.01), and laying egg weight, average egg weight, total egg yield (P&lt;0.05). A 2 g HPWP supplementation resulted in the highest total egg yield (P&lt;0.05) with quadratic effects on egg shape index (P&lt;0.05) and albumen pH (P&lt;0.01). According to the values in the study, the egg shape index of 2 g HPWP group was circular and; therefore, attractive to consumers. We highly recommend the non-economic value of 2 g/kg supplementation of hot pepper waste powder, especially for egg production. To conclude, HPWP can be used for quail layer diets due to its beneficial effects on egg quality since it is an economic and easy agricultural by-product obtained from red pepper paste industry waste.

Reproductive Performance of Japanese Quail Hens (Coturnixcoturnix japonica) Fed with Feed Restriction Regimes during Growth Period

Reproductive performance of quail hens (Coturnixcoturnix japonica) at sexual maturity was evaluated following two feeding restriction programs (100%, 90% and 80% of ad libitum) and energy metabolism (EM) of ration: 2900 Kcal/kg and 2800 Kcal/kg) between 2 weeks and 5 weeks of age with five replicates of 10 chicks per replicate. Body weight and feed conversion were measured weekly during feed restriction. After experimental feeding treatment, age at first egg, BW, egg weight, development of reproductive organ on sexual maturity were evaluated of one hen’s quail per treatment. The results of the experiment indicated that the restricted feeding until 80% of ad libitum was consequently (p 0.01) delayed sexual maturity and influence the development of the reproductive organ. However, it did not show significant influence on the body weight of the first-laid egg and initial egg production. Restricted feeding at 90% of ad libitum and EM ration 2900 Kcal/kg showed the best results for quail feed management during growth.

Modeling the response of Japanese quail hens to lysine intake

Studies on Japanese quails have been conducted using the dose response method over the years and, to date, there have been few studies on the response of quails to the amino acid intake, such as lysine. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine an optimal adaptation period for Lys requirement studies with quails, (2) estimate the maintenance requirements for Lys, (3) determine the efficiency of Lys utilization, and (4) determine the requirements for egg output of quails. The studies were conducted in a complete random design, with 7 concentrations of Lysine (Lys) (2.6 to 13.0 g/kg) and 7 replicates with 7 quails per cage. The eighth concentration was included to confirm that Lys was actually the first limiting amino acid in the dietary protein. The experiment began at 14 weeks of age, quail with peak egg production, and finished after 10 weeks of data collection. The variables analyzed were feed intake (FI), Lys intake, body weight (BW), egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), weight gain, and egg output (EO, g/g). The results showed that 3 weeks of adaptation and 4 weeks of data collection period were enough for the quail to adapt and stabilize their responses to experimental diets. The responses of quails to Lys intake were evaluated using broken line analysis, and Lys requirements for maintenance and EO were estimated using monomolecular function The Lys requirements for maintenance and egg output were estimated to be 156 mg/BWkg0.75 per day and 21 mg/g of egg, respectively. These results were used to develop the following approach factorial: Lys = 21EO + 156BW0.75. The current study provides procedures (determine an optimal adaptation period for amino acid studies with quails) and methods (utilization of dilution technique to determine Lys maintenance requirements and utilization efficiency) designed for quails as well as a simple and flexible model that can be quickly adopted by researchers. Future studies should improve the coefficients (mg of Lys required for EO and BW) proposed in this research, especially to maintenance requirements.

Kadar Kolesterol Daging Pada Keturunan F1 Dari Induk Puyuh Jepang (Coturnix coturnix japonica L.) Yang Diberi Suplemen Tepung Kunyit (Curcuma longa L.) Dalam Pakan

Quail is one of poultry commodities that compliance the needed of animal protein like egg and meat. Good quality was breed from quail parent that has good physiological condition. This research aimed to quantified cholesterol of quail meat from F1 from quail parent that treatment using turmeric powder supplement on itsfed in order to obtained best quail chick with good physiological condition. This research use Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experimental method. Animal on this research was 15 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica L.) hens that gave 3 treatments with 5 repetitions. K0 was F1 of quail parent without turmeric powder supplementation, K1 was F1 of quail parent with 54 mg/quail/day turmeric powder supplementation before its sex period, K2 was F1 of quail parent with 108 mg/quail/day turmeric powder supplementation before its sex period. The F1 quail was fed using standard quail feed. Data was obtained from daily fed consumption average, daily water consumption, and quail meat cholesterol rate on 60 day old chicken. Data was analyses using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). This research result showed that daily fed consumption, daily water consumption and meat cholesterol rate of F1 that treatment using turmeric powder supplementation wasn’t show significant difference, so conclusion of this research is physiological condition of F1 was normal. Key words: Quail Meat Cholesterol, F1 of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), Turmeric powder

Pathology and Tissue Distribution of an LPAI H5N8 of North American Lineage Isolated from an Outbreak in Commercial Japanese Quail (Coturnix c. japonica) in the Central Valley of California

This report describes the pathology and tissue distribution of avian influenza (AI) antigens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the tissues of commercial layer quail from a natural outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H5N8. LPAI virus H5N8 of North American lineage was diagnosed in commercial Japanese quail hens ( Coturnix coturnix japonica) in California based on serology, reverse-transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction, virus isolation, and sequencing. The sudden increase in mortality in a flock of laying quail hens had prompted the submission of 15 live and 5 dead, 10- to 15-wk-old quail to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock branch in the beginning of April 2014. There was mild bilateral swelling of the eyelids and greenish diarrhea in 4/15 live quail submitted. On postmortem examination, there were severe, extensive hemorrhages and multifocal, confluent pale foci in the pancreas in 10/20 birds. Liver gross lesions in five birds ranged from a few pale areas to numerous disseminated foci. Histology revealed moderate to severe necrosis of acinar cells in the pancreas with little or no inflammation in most of the birds. Livers had acute multifocal coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes with fibrin exudation and infiltration of few to large numbers of heterophils and lymphocytes randomly scattered throughout. The AI virus was detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm of pancreatic acinar cells and hepatocytes by IHC targeting the nucleoprotein of the AI virus. A few birds had AI antigen in the reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen, endothelial cells of the lungs, epithelium of the respiratory mucosa, and lamina propria of the intestine. The severity of the lesions observed in this natural outbreak of LPAI in quail was higher than that expected for the pathotypic presentation in this species.

Studies on metabolic hormones, sex steroids and mRNA expression of caspase 2, Bcl-XL gene in ovarian follicles of Japanese quail hens during stress

Studies on metabolic hormones, sex steroids and mRNA expression of caspase 2, Bcl-XL gene in ovarian follicles of Japanese quail hens during stress

Diagnosis and Control of a LPAI H5N8 Outbreak in a Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Commercial Flock in the Central Valley of California.

In April 2014 an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 North American genetic lineage was diagnosed in a commercial quail operation in Stanislaus County, California. Sudden increase in mortality prompted the submission of 20 Japanese quail hens (Coturnix c. japonica) to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Turlock Branch. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs tested positive for influenza A virus H5N8 by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The virus was subsequently isolated. In vivo assay and sequencing of the hemagglutinin protein cleavage site classified the virus as a North American genetic lineage of low pathogenicity for chickens. Following the diagnosis, a rapid and coordinated response took place to contain the outbreak. The affected premise was depopulated, cleaned, and disinfected. Three areas from the affected premises-a 3 kilometer (km) radius (High Risk Zone), a 3-10 km area (Buffer Zone), and a 10-20 km (Surveillance Zone)-were established for avian influenza testing of commercial and noncommercial poultry operations. Surveillance testing and rapid control measures were successful in the control and eradication of the outbreak and revealed no area of spread of the virus from the index flock. This report describes the history, diagnosis, surveillance, and control measures applied to manage this outbreak.

Effect of Supplementation of Withania somnifera L. Roots on Some Blood Physiological Parameters of Japanese Quail Hens Reared Under High Environmental Temperature

An experiment was conducted to assess the antistress efficacy of Withania somnifera roots ethanolic on some blood physiological traits of Japanese quail hens reared under high environmental temperature (27-37-27ºC).Three hundred Japanese quail hens of six weeks old were randomly distributed into five treatments T0 untreated group (control), T1, T2 quails supplemented orally with 50, 100 mg/kg/day root ethanolic extract(WSRE) respectively,T3, T4 received 1,2 g/kg diet rootpowder(WSRP) respectively.Results revealed significant increase in Hb and PCV % in quails supplemented with T4 at 10 and 15weeks of age, and in T3 and T4 groups at 12 weeks of age in comparison with T0 and WSRE groups. At 10 and 15 weeks old, T2 resulted in significant increasing in Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio in comparison withT0and other treatments. At 15 weeks of age,T1and T2 significantly increased Heterophil% in comparison with T0 and WSRP groups, while, quails in T4 showed significant reduction in Heterophil% and significant increasing in Lymphocyte% compared with T1, also results showed that supplementing quails with T4significantly increased serum iron .Thyroid hormones didn’t affected significantly due to treatments while T3 significantly increased TSH.

Sexual maturation, serum steroid concentrations, and mRNA expression of IGF-1, luteinizing and progesterone hormone receptors and survivin gene in Japanese quail hens

In avian species, sexual maturation represents the evidence of start laying, which is a consequence of the development of ovarian follicles. These follicles are the functional reproductive unit whose maturation and viability critically depends on endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine factors beyond the signals from the central nervous system. The present study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of sexual maturity with tissue growth, mRNA expression of certain genes, and serum steroid concentrations in Japanese quail hens. To carry out the present study, a total of forty Japanese quail hens (5 weeks) were housed individually under uniform husbandry condition with ad libitum quail layer ration and water at 14-hour photo schedule. On sixth week onwards, four birds were sacrificed at each time on 1, 3, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, and 28 days. Serum was extracted aseptically to analyze the gonadal steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and corticosterone to investigate the liaison with sexual maturation of the species. Expression analyses of four genes i.e., insulin-like growth factor-1, luteinizing hormone receptor, progesterone receptor, and survivin were carried out in the three largest ovarian yellow follicles. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in body weight gain and oviduct weight was recorded during the phase of sexual maturation. Smaller follicles revealed higher insulin-like growth factor-1 and survivin gene expression, whereas the reverse result was manifested in both the luteinizing and progesterone hormone receptors. In biochemical study, the gonadal steroids (estrogen and progesterone) were recorded higher at the first half of the experiment when a gradual decrease in corticosterone concentration was confirmed from the very beginning of this study. This result substantiated that sexual maturation in Japanese quail may be completed by the time of 8 weeks after its birth in support of the analyzed information studied in the current investigation.

Recovery of fertility from adult ovarian tissue transplanted into week-old Japanese quail chicks

Fertility of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from immature chickens and Japanese quail has been recovered by transplantation. This is of special importance for non-mammalian vertebrates in which cryopreservation and in vitro maturation of oocytes are challenging because their oogenesis is characterised by vitellogenesis. This study tested whether fertility of adult quail ovarian tissue could be recovered by transplantation. Ovaries were isolated from mature Japanese quail hens, trimmed, cut into 3- to 4-mm2 pieces and transplanted into ovariectomised, week-old chicks. Recipients were administered an immunosuppressant for two weeks. Ten of 12 recipients survived until sexual maturity and seven laid eggs, but all stopped laying by 17 weeks of age. The age at first egg of recipients laying eggs (75.7±4.2 days) was greater than that of untreated hens (51.8±1.7 days) and egg production of recipients during the laying period (21.7±5.7) was less than that of untreated hens (60.8±3.5). Recipients were paired with males from the WB line for test mating. Only two hens laid eggs during the test period but both produced 100% donor-derived offspring. This research demonstrated that the reproductive potential of ovarian tissue from adult quail hens can be restored by transplantation.