EFFECT OF CAGES TYPE AND MATING MANAGEMENT ON FERTILITY AND HATCHABILITY OF JAPANESE QUAIL

El-Sheikh, T.M., N.M. Essa, M.A., Elsagheer

Abstract
   This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different mating ratios; (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively) and cages types:(individual and colony) on the fertility and hatchability rate of Japanese quail from 16-32 weeks of age. A total number of 260 sexed Japanese quails (65 males &195 females) at 16 weeks of age were used. All birds were randomly divided into two experimental groups according to two cage types (individually & colony cages); 160 birds for colony cage and 100 birds for individually cage. Each group was divided into five treatments of mating ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively), each treatment of individual cages divided into five replicates, while the colony cages was one replicate for each. The results showed that fertility rate and hatchability rate for eggs produced from quails which reared in individual cages was significantly higher (P≤0.05) than those in colony cages. Also, the mating ratios of (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 male to females) had higher (P≤0.05) fertility and hatchability rates as compared with those of (1:4 and 1:5 male to females). However, data indicated that cages type and different mating ratios had no significant effect on chick weight at hatch (absolute & percentage). From these results, it could be concluded that individual cages had better fertility and hatchability rate as compared with those which reared in colony cages. Also, the mating ratios of (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 male to females, respectively) are considered the best for rearing adult Japanese quail to obtain the high fertility and hatchability rates compared with others (1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively).

Key words: Mating ratio, fertility, hatchability, Japanese quail, cage type