Effect of Egg Weight on External and Internal Qualities, Physiological and Hatching Success of Japanese Quail Eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Effects of exposing Japanese quail eggs to a low dose of gamma radiation and in ovo feeding by two sources of trace elements on embryonic development activities

The present study investigated the influence of exposing quail eggs to low-dose gamma radiation (GR) and in ovo feeding with 2 sources of a mixture of trace elements (Zn, Fe, and Cu), including sulfate (TES) and loaded with montmorillonite (TEM), on embryonic development activities and prehatch quality. A total of 960 eggs on the seventh day of incubation were randomly divided into 6 groups (160 eggs/group) with 4 replicate of 40 eggs in each. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment was performed and included 3 sources in ovo feeding with a mixture of trace elements (Zn, Fe, and Cu), including 0 mg/egg, 50 mg TES/egg, and 50 mg TEM/egg with egg irradiation using 0 and 0.2 Gy from GR. Eggs injected with 50 mg TEM/egg and exposed to 0.2 Gy from GR (TEM/GR) was significantly (P ≤ 0.05 and 0.01) higher in hatchability, hatch body weight, and relative organ weight (liver, gizzard, proventriculus, heart, and intestine). The obtained results indicated significant (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in the serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in TEM/GR group. There was significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased of catalase (CAT) activity and the concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in TEM/GR group; however; total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased in CT/GR group. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM) (P ≤ 0.05) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were increased in the TEM/CR group; the concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) significant (P ≤ 0.05) increased in the TEM/GR group; and interleukins (IL6 and IL10) showed no significant differences among the groups. Our results showed increase in thyroxine and myostatin concentrations with TES/CR and CT/GR of our study groups, respectively. The relative mRNA expression levels of the GH, IGF-1, and Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS) genes were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 and 0.01) upregulated in the liver tissue of the TEM/GR group compared with the other groups. In conclusion, TEM/GR was the best treatment for improving prehatch quality, increasing serum antioxidant enzyme activities, and promoting the expression of growth and immune genes in fertilized quail eggs.

The physicochemical features of eggshell, thick albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk during chicken embryogenesis

The study aimed to analyze the hatching egg and physiochemical features of eggshells, thick albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk during the incubation of Ross 308 chicken eggs. Eggs (n = 755) were incubated for 21 d. Quality analysis of fresh eggs was performed. Eggshells, albumen, and yolk were collected from fresh eggs and incubation d 1, 7, and 14. Eggshell thickness and strength, pH, vitelline membrane strength, fatty acid (FA) in the yolk, pH, viscosity, lysozyme activity, and crude protein content in thick albumen and amniotic fluid were analyzed. Hatching parameters were calculated. Egg weight loss was constant (8.04% overall). Lower egg surface temperature was found on d 7 compared to d 4, 14, and 18. A lower thickness of posthatch eggshells was found. The strength of the vitelline membrane significantly decreased within 24 h (by over 58%). During incubation, there was a decrease in thick albumen/amniotic fluid pH; an opposite trend was found in yolk pH. The vitelline membrane strength was negatively correlated with the albumen pH. Lysozyme activity was higher in fresh thick albumen and up to 2 wk of incubation. On d 7, the lowest activity was found in the amniotic fluid. On d 14, lysozyme activity increased in amniotic fluid. The higher viscosity of the thick albumen was demonstrated on d 7 and 14 of incubation. The lowest viscosity in amniotic fluid was found on the same days. Crude protein content was higher in thick albumen (d 7 and 14) and lowest in amniotic fluid on d 7. The FA content changed between d 0 and 14. The results indicate different use of FA, where PUFA decreased. Eggshell is used in the last week of incubation. The thick albumen is reduced, while the biological value of amniotic fluid is increasing. Lysozyme activity, viscosity, and crude protein content may be interdependent. It may indicate the flow of substances and the transfer of functions from the thick albumen to the amniotic fluid during chicken embryogenesis.

Calcium anacardate and its association with citric acid in diets for meat-type breeding quails

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using calcium anacardate (CaA) as a source of anacardic acid and its association with citric acid (CA) in diets for breeding quails on the performance, the egg quality, incubation parameters, and progeny performance. Were used 540 quails European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) that were 21 weeks old, housed in laying cages based on a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and six replications of 10 quails per parcel, with each experimental unit having eight females and two males. The following additions to the diet were evaluated: 1, no addition (control diet); 2, 0.25% CaA; 3, 0.25% CaA and 0.25% CA; 4, 0.50% CaA; 5, 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA; 6, 0.50% CaA and 0.50% CA; 7, 0.75% CaA; 8, 0.75% CaA and 0.25% CA; and 9, 0.75% CaA and 0.50% CA. The treatments had no significant effects on the performance of the breeding quails, incubation parameters, and progeny performance. For egg quality, there was only an effect on yolk lipid oxidation, which was lower for eggs from quails fed the diets containing 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA, 0.50% CaA and 0.50% CA, or 0.75% CaA alone, when compared with the control group. Considering that including CaA with or without CA in diets for breeding quails only affected yolk lipid oxidation, it can be recommend including 0.50% CaA and 0.25% CA or 0.75% CaA alone to mitigate oxidative damage in the yolk of fertile eggs.

Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm

This Scientific Opinion concerns the welfare of Domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) and their hybrids (Mule ducks), Domestic geese (Anser anser f. domesticus) and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in relation to the rearing of breeders, birds for meat, Muscovy and Mule ducks and Domestic geese for foie gras and layer Japanese quail for egg production. The most common husbandry systems (HSs) in the European Union are described for each animal species and category. The following welfare consequences are described and assessed for each species: restriction of movement, injuries (bone lesions including fractures and dislocations, soft tissue lesions and integument damage and locomotory disorders including lameness), group stress, inability to perform comfort behaviour, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour and inability to express maternal behaviour (related to prelaying and nesting behaviours). Animal-based measures relevant for the assessment of these welfare consequences were identified and described. The relevant hazards leading to the welfare consequences in the different HSs were identified. Specific factors such as space allowance (including minimum enclosure area and height) per bird, group size, floor quality, characteristics of nesting facilities and enrichment provided (including access to water to fulfil biological needs) were assessed in relation to the welfare consequences and, recommendations on how to prevent the welfare consequences were provided in a quantitative or qualitative way.

Ecological footprint of poultry production and effect of environment on poultry genes

The growing demand for poultry meat and eggs has forced plenty of changes in poultry production in recent years. According to FAO, the total number of poultry in the world in 2019 was 27.9 billion. About 93% of them are chickens. The number of chickens has doubled in the last 30 years. These animals are the most numerous in Asia and America. Hence, poultry meat is the most frequently obtained type of meat in recent years (it is 40.6% of the obtained meat). Focusing on lowering production costs has led to process optimization, which was possible by improving the use of animal genetics, optimizing feeding programs, and new production technologies. The applied process optimization and production increase practices may also lead to a deterioration of the ecological balance through pollution with chemical substances, water consumption, and natural resources. The aim of this paper was to review the current state of knowledge in the field of the ecological footprint of poultry production and the impact on environmental genes.

Influence of strain and flock age on geometrical and mechanical attributes of eggs produced from Japanese quail birds

We investigated how the geometrical and mechanical properties of eggshell of Japanese quail are affected by strain and flock age. Two strains of quail (white and gray) were used in the current experiment. The results showed that there was no significant difference for all geometric measurements due to strain effect. Eggs produced from the older birds showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) values compared with younger age for all studied traits. Eggs produced from quails at 22 weeks had a significantly (P < 0.01) darker yolk color than that of the younger age. Superiority in shell thickness, shell weight, and breaking force was detected in eggs of gray quails compared with white quails. On the other hand, the eggs from white quails had significantly higher values for static stiffness and Young's modulus as compared with those of gray counterparts. A significant decrease (P < 0.01) was found for fracture toughness and Young's modulus in eggs of aged birds. A significant negative relationship was found between the breaking force and both static stiffness and Young's modulus. A significant positive relationship was observed between breaking force and both shell thickness and shell percentage. The phenotypic correlation between eggshell breaking force and toughness was relatively high.

Bee pollen improves productivity of laying Japanese quails

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bee pollen (BP) on the performance of laying Japanese quails and egg quality. A total of 60 quails were used in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% BP inclusion in diets) and five replicates. At the end of the study, productive performance and egg quality were evaluated; 160 eggs were maintained at different temperatures based on a completely randomized design and factorial arrangement (4 × 2), with four BP levels (cited above) and two storage temperatures (room temperature and refrigeration) for 14 days, totaling eight treatments with four replicates. BP levels did not influence (P> 0.05) feed conversion; however, daily feed intake, laying rate, egg mass, and weight and percentage of albumen increased. Yolk percentage decreased due to the augmentation of BP in diets. There was no effect (P> 0.05) of interaction of storage temperature × BP levels on egg quality, except with regard to the Haugh unit. BP supplementation resulted in higher egg weight and index of yolk and albumen. Refrigerated eggs had better internal quality than normal eggs. BP inclusion in diets of Japanese quails improved bird performance and the quality of fresh and stored eggs.