The Effect of Hatching Egg Weight on Hatching Performance in Japanese Quails

Abstract

In this study, parameters of hatching performance such as egg fertility rate, hatchability, hatch yield, egg weight and hatch weight were determined in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The study used 1040 hatching eggs from a 3-5 month old Japanese quail flock bred in a private company. The eggs were divided into 5 weight classes:  10.4 g “Group I”, 10.5-11.7 g “Group 2”, 11.8-12.5 g “Group 3”, 12.6-13.5 g “Group 4” and 13.6 g “Group 5”. A one-way analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the effects of egg weight classes on hatching performance, and Pearson correlation and regression analyzes were performed between egg weight and chick hatching weight. The average egg weight was 12.16 g and the average hatch weight was 8.47 g. The study showed that the effect of hatch weight on fertility rate, hatchability from fertilized eggs and hatchability from all eggs was significant. The fertility rate, hatchability from fertilized eggs and hatchability from all eggs were 83%±1.2, 86%±1.2 and 74%±1.3, respectively. The results of this study show that the weight of the hatching eggs has a significant influence on the fertility rate, the hatchability from fertilized eggs and the hatchability from all eggs. An increase in egg weight contributed to the improvement of these parameters and higher hatchability weights of the chicks were achieved. These results underline the importance of hatching egg selection in quail breeding and show that heavy eggs should be preferred in order to achieve higher productivity.

Keywords

• Japanese Quail
• Egg weight
• Hatching performance

Japon Bıldırcınlarında Kuluçkalık Yumurta Ağırlığının Kuluçka Performansına Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, Japon bıldırcınlarında (Coturnix coturnix japonica) yumurta döllülük oranı, çıkış gücü, kuluçka randımanı, yumurta ağırlığı ve civciv çıkış ağırlığı gibi kuluçka performansına ait parametreler belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada özel bir işletmede yetiştirilen 3-5 aylık yaştaki damızlık Japon bıldırcın sürüsünden sağlanan 1040 adet kuluçkalık yumurta kullanılmıştır. Yumurtalar 10.4 g olanlar “I. grup”, 10.5-11.7 g arasındakiler “2. grup”, 11.8-12.5 g arasındakiler “3. grup”, 12.6-13.5 g arasındakiler “4. grup” ve 13.6 g olanlar “5. grup” olarak 5 ağırlık sınıfına ayrılmıştır. Yumurta ağırlık sınıflarının kuluçka performansına etkisini değerlendirmek için tek yönlü varyans analizi yapılmış, ayrıca yumurta ağırlığı ile civciv çıkış ağırlığı arasındaki pearson korelasyonu ve regresyon analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yumurta ağırlığı ortalama 12.16 g, civciv çıkış ağırlığı ise ortalama 8.47 g olarak hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmada, kuluçkalık yumurta ağırlığının döllülük oranı, çıkış gücü ve kuluçka randımanına etkisi anlamlı bulunmuştur. Yumurtalarda döllülük oranı %83±1.2, çıkış gücü %86±1.2 ve kuluçka randımanı %74±1.3 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, kuluçkalık yumurta ağırlığının döllülük oranı, çıkış gücü ve kuluçka randımanı üzerinde önemli bir etkisi olduğunu göstermektedir. Yumurta ağırlığının artması ile daha ağır civcivler elde edilmiştir. Bu bulgular, bıldırcın yetiştiriciliğinde kuluçkalık yumurta seçiminin önemini vurgulamakta ve daha yüksek verimlilik sağlamak için ağır yumurtaların tercih edilmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Japon bıldırcın
• Yumurta ağırlığı
• Kuluçka randımanı

References

1. Abo-Samaha, M. I., & El-Kazaz, S. E. (2020). Egg weight affects hatching results, body weight and fear-related behavior in Japanese quails. Slov Vet Res 2020: 57 (1), 15 –24. https://doi.org/10.26873/SVR-895-2019.
2. Abou-Kassem, D. E., El-Sayiad, G. A., El-Samahy, R. A., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Taha, A. E., Kamal, M., ... & Ashour, E. A. (2024). Impacts of storage period and egg weight on hatching and growth performance of growing Japanese quails. Poultry Science, 103(7), 103772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103772.
3. Adeyanju, T., Abiola, S., Adegbite, J., & Adeyanju, S. (2014). Effect of egg size on hatchability of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks. Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 5, 133-135. https://hdl.handle.net/ 10520/EJC156923
4. Ahmed, L. S., & Al-Barzinji, Y. M. S. (2020). Comparative study of hatchability and fertility rate among local quails. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 51(3), 744-751. doi: 10.36103/IJAS.V51I3.1028.
5. Alkan, S., Karabağ, K., Galiç, A., & Balcıoğlu, M. (2008). Effects of genotype and egg weight on hatchability traits and hatching weight in Japanese quail. South African Journal of Animal Science, 38, 231-237.
6. Al-Tikriti, S. S. A., & Al-Nassery, H. Z. M. (2023). Effect of egg weight and type of breeding on the productive performance of Japanese quail. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1213(1), 012079. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1213/ 1/012079.
7. Anonim. (2011). Deneysel ve Diğer Bilimsel Amaçlar İçin Kullanilan Hayvanlarin Refah ve Korunmasına Dair Yönetmelik. Resmi Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/ 2011/12/20111213-4.htm (Erişim tarihi: 15.09.2023).
8. Biesiada-Drzazga, B. (2020). Evaluation of eggs in terms of hatching capability. ASP, 19, 11-18. https://doi.org/10.21005/ASP.2020.19.2.02.

9. Chimezie, V., Ademola, A., Alli, O., Jubril, A., & Josiah, B. (2020). Relationship between egg weight, hatching weight and subsequent body weight in the Japanese quail. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production. 47(1), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.51791/NJAP.V47I1.174.
10. Dawood, I., Alneemy, M., & Hameed, S. (2021). Study of the effect of the genetic group, egg weight, and their interaction on the productive performance of quail birds during the growth stage. Plant Archives. 21(Supplement 1), 98-103. https://doi.org/10.51470/ PLANTARCHIVES.2021.V21. NO1.019.
11. Egbeyale, L., Fatoki, H., & Adeyemi, O. (2020). Effect of egg weight and oviposition time on hatchability and post-hatch performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Nigerian Journal of Animal Production. https://doi.org/10.51791/NJAP.V40I1.652.
12. Hegab, I. M., & Hanafy, A. M. (2019). Effect of egg weight on external and internal qualities, physiological and hatching success of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 21, eRBCA-2018. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2018-0777.
13. Ismael, N. A., Abdelmonem, U. M., El-Kholy, M. S., El Nagar, A. G., Ahmed, A. F., Almalki, M., ... & Reda, F. M. (2024). The relationship between eggshell color, hatching traits, fertility, mortality, and some qualitative aspects of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs. Poultry science, 103(2), 103298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.103298.
14. Karaman, M., & Bulut, M. (2018). Japon Bıldırcınlarında Kuluçkalık Yumurta Ağırlığının Kuluçka ve Kuluçka Sonrası Performans Özelliklerine Etkisi. KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi, 21(1), 13-19. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksudobil.282557.
15. Kaygısız, A. (1995). Incubation characters of hybrid SxTx hens. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 65(5), 596-598.
16. Kruenti, F., Lamptey, V. K., Okai, M. A., Adu-Aboagye, G., Oduro-Owuso, A. D., Bebanaayele, F., & Suurbessig, B. (2022). The influence of flock age and egg size on egg shape index, hatchability and growth of japanese quail chicks. Journal of Innovative Agriculture, 9(1), 8-16. DOI: 10.37446/jinagri/rsa/9.1.2022.8-16.
17. Kul, S., & Şeker, I. (2004). Phenotypic correlations between some external and internal egg quality traits in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). International Journal of Poultry Science, 3, 400-405. https://doi.org/10.3923/IJPS.2004.400.405.
18. Küçükyılmaz, K., Başer, E., Erensayın, C., Orhan, H., & Arat, E. (2001). Japon bıldırcınlarında damızlık yumurta ağırlığının kuluçka sonuçları, besi performansı ve yumurta verim özellikleri üzerine etkisi. Hayvancılık Araştırma Dergisi, 11(1), 6-12.
19. Narahari, D., Mujeer, K., Thangavel, A., Ramamurthy, N., Viswanathan, S., Mohan, B., Muruganandan, B., & Sundararasu, V. (1988). Traits influencing the hatching performance of Japanese quail eggs. British Poultry Science, 29, 101-112. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00071668808417031.
20. Narushin, V. G., Volkova, N. A., Vetokh, A. N., Sotnikov, D. A., Volkova, L. A., Griffin, D. K., ... & Zinovieva, N. A. (2024). ‘Eggology’and mathematics of a quail egg: An innovative non-destructive technology for evaluating egg parameters in Japanese quail. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 146, 49-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2024.04.007.
21. Nowaczewski, S., Witkiewicz, K., Kontecka, H., Krystianiak, S., & Rosiński, A. (2010). Eggs weight of Japanese quail vs. eggs quality after storage time and hatchability results. Archives Animal Breeding, 53, 720-730. https://doi.org/10.5194/AAB-53-720-2010.
22. Orhan, H., Efe, E., & Şahin, M. (2004). SAS yazılımı ile istatistiksel analizler. Tuğra Ofset.
23. Özcan, M., Ekiz, B., & Güneş, H. (2001). Japon bıldırcınlarında (Coturnix coturnix japonica) gruplanmış yumurta ağırlığı ve çıkım ağırlığının büyüme performansı üzerine etkileri. İstanbul Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 27(2), 579-584.
24. Petek, M., Başpinar, H., & Ogan, M. (2004). Effects of egg weight and length of storage on hatchability and subsequent growth performance of quail. South African Journal of Animal Science, 33, 242-247. https://doi.org/10.4314/SAJAS.V33I4.3780.
25. Petek, M., Başpinar, H., Ogan, M., & Balci, F. (2005). Effects of egg weight and length of storage period on hatchability and subsequent laying performance of quail. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 29, 537-542. https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/ veterinary/vol29/iss2/52.
26. Prituzhalova, A. O., Volkova, N. A., Kuzmina, T. I., Vetokh, A. N., & Dzhagaev, A. Y. (2023). Monitoring of indicators of chromatin status in quails ovarian follicles granulosa cells of different directions of productivity. Agrar. Nauka, 368, 53-57.
27. Reijrink, I. A. M., Meijerhof, R., Kemp, B., & Van Den Brand, H. (2008). The chicken embryo and its micro environment during egg storage and early incubation. World's Poultry Science Journal, 64(4), 581-598.
28. Sarica, M., & Soley, F. (1995). The effect of hatching egg weight on the hatchability, growing and egg production traits of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Journal of Agriculture Faculty of OMU, 10(3), 19-30.
29. SAS. (1999). SAS Institute Inc., SAS OnlineDoc, Version 8, Cary, NC, USA.
30. Sefton, A., & Siegel, P. (1974). Body weight relationships of newly hatched Japanese quail.. Poultry science, 53(3), 1254-1256 . https://doi.org/10.3382/PS.0531254.
31. Şeker, I., Kul, S., & Bayraktar, M. (2004). Effects of Parental Age and Hatching Egg Weight of Japanese Quails on Hatchability and Chick Weight. International Journal of Poultry Science, 3, 259-265. https://doi.org/10.3923/IJPS.2004.259.265.
32. Şeker, I., Kul, S., & Bayraktar, M. (2005). Effects of storage period and egg weight of Japanese quail eggs on hatching results (short communication). Archives Animal Breeding, 48, 518-526. https://doi.org/10.5194/AAB-48-518-2005
33. Taşkın, A., Karadavut, U., Cayan, H., Genç, S., & Coskun, I. (2015). Determination of small variation effects of egg weight and shape index on fertility and hatching rates in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). Journal of Selcuk University Natural and Applied Science, 4, 73-83.
34. Taylor, G. (1998). Egg handling techniques (2nd ed.). Medina, Ohio, USA.
35. Vali, N., Edriss, M., & Moshtaghi, H. (2006). Comparison of egg weight between two quail strains. International Journal of Poultry Science, 5, 398-400. https://doi.org/10.3923/ IJPS.2006.398.400
36. Wilson, H. R. (1991). Interrelationships of egg size, chick size, posthatching growth and hatchability. World's Poultry Science Journal, 47(1), 5-20.
37. Yannakopoulos, A., & Tserveni-Gousi, A. (1987). Effect of breeder quail age and egg weight on chick weight. Poultry Science, 66(9), 1558-1560. https://doi.org/10.3382/PS.0661558.
38. Yıldırım, İ., & Yetişir, R. (1998). Japon bıldırcınlarında (Coturnix coturnix japonica) kuluçkalık yumurta ağırlığı ve ebeveyn yaşının civciv ağırlığı ve 6. hafta canlı ağırlığı üzerine etkileri. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 22, 315-319.
39. Zurina, R., Malianti, L., Definiati, N., Rita, W., & Suliasih, S. (2023). Effect Of Egg Weight On Hatchability And Hatching Weight Of Quail (Cortunix cortunix Japonica). SINTA Journal (Science, Technology, and Agricultural), 4(2), 209-214.