Impact of environmental enrichment on the productivity of Japanese quails.

Wengerska, Karolina; Ramankevich, Anastasiya; Rokicka, Kinga; Drabik, Kamil; Knaga, Sebastian; Batkowska, Justyna

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production parameters and egg quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a possible response to enrichment of the birds' cages. The study material consisted of 280 individually marked Japanese quails (56♂:224♀). Birds at 5 weeks of age were randomly divided into 7 equal-sized groups with replication subgroups (4 per group, 10 birds in each replicate). Birds were kept in 0,5 m2 cages with unlimited access to water and feed. The differentiating factor was the presence of enrichment in the birds' cages. The following groups were created: 1 - control (reared without any enrichment), 2 - nest box, 3 - scratching surface, 4 - corrugated flexible tube, 5 - limestone cube, 6 - sand bath box, and 7 - feed box with holes drilled in the cover. Bird liveability and productivity indices (laying rate, FCR, egg weight, and body weight) were recorded throughout the experiment. After 6 weeks of the experiment, 24 eggs were randomly collected from each group for qualitative analysis. The presence of an enriched environment was shown to positively influence production parameters and the quality of eggs obtained from Japanese quails compared to birds kept under standard husbandry conditions.

JAPANESE quail; EGG quality; ANIMAL welfare; BIRD eggs; PARAMETER estimation

Animal Science & Genetics, 2022, Vol 18, Issue 3, p69

2720-6076

Academic Journal

10.5604/01.3001.0016.0436