Age effect on quality traits of breeder Japanese quail eggs

Abstract

The experiment explored the effect of age on the quality traits of breeder Japanese quail eggs. 204 eggs were sampled at 68 eggs/week in a Completely Randomised Design that involved 17-, 21- and 25-week-old quails. Data were analyzed with the one-way Analysis of Variance, Pearson Correlation and Best All-subset Regression Analyses in Minitab 18 at 5% significance level. Shell weight was significantly heavier (p < 0.05) in the youngest quails than in the older groups. Albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly highest (p < 0.05) in the 21-weekold quails. Egg weight associated positively and highly with egg length in the younger quails at weeks 17 and 21 but positively low in the oldest quails. Egg weight related positively and highly with egg width in the younger birds at 17 and 21 weeks. However, egg weight and egg width related moderately and positively in the 25-week-old quails. The overall best predictors of egg weight were egg length, egg width, albumen weight and yolk weight at R² = 95.6% in the 17-week-old birds. Quality traits of breeder eggs and their relationships vary with layers age and quails that are 17 weeks old are most suitable for breeding purposes. However, management of breeder quails that are beyond 17 weeks old must be improved to enhance the quality of their eggs for hatching purposes.