Carcass Characteristics of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Managed Under Varying Stocking Densities During Seasonal Transition

The aim of this study was to assess the carcass characteristics of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) managed under varying stocking densities during the transition from dry to rainy period. A total of two hundred and ninety-six day-old and apparently healthy Japanese quails were used for the study for a period of eight weeks. They were divided into four stocking densities of 252.20cm2 /bird (11birds); 173.43 cm2 /bird (16birds), 132.10 cm2 /bird (21birds), and 106.73 cm2 /bird (26birds) that represented Treatments 1-4 respectively. The treatments were replicated four times in a completely randomized design. Data collected were analyzed using linear model procedure for one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that females recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher values for all the organs measured- liver, heart, gizzard and proventriculus than male quails. Stocking density in this study had no significant effect (P ≥0.05) on body length, shank length, thigh length, wing length and shank circumference but were all better at lower stocking densities. The percentage edible meat of quail in this study is higher than in most poultry species thereby suggesting its higher efficiency in terms of meat production. Finally, stocking densities of 173.43cm2 /bird and 132.10cm2 /bird could therefore be considered for quail production during high environmental temperature without compromising quail welfare.