This study was conducted with 600, seven day-old mixed Japanese quail chicks to investigate the effects of varying levels of turmeric rhizome powder (TRP) on growth parameters, carcass traits and organoleptic properties of the breast muscles. The chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary groups containing 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% TRP of sorghum-soybean based diet in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had six replicates of 20 birds each and was studied from 7-42 days of age. Growth performance (body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality), carcass characteristics (dressed weight, dressing percent, breast and gastrointestinal weights) and organoleptic properties (colour, flavor, juiciness, texture, number of chews, remains after and overall acceptability) were measured. One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis and significant means separated using the least significant difference methods. Inclusion of TRP in the diet increased (P<0.05) all growth parameters, especially at 0.50% inclusion without any adverse effect (P>0.05) on carcass traits. Mean scores for organoleptic evaluation of meat showed that TRP had no influence (P>0.05) quail breast muscle. This study concludes that TRP significantly improved growth without altering the carcass and organoleptic properties of breast muscle of Japanese quails. Dietary supplementation with 0.50% TRP is thus recommended for quails fed sorghum-soybean based diet.

The study evaluated effect of strain on external and internal egg indices of two strains of Japanese quails (Cinnamon Brown (CBS) and Panda White (PWS) Strains)). 300 birds per Strain were reared in a Completely Randomized Design in an intensive system of management practice with ad libitum feed and water for 10 weeks. Strains were considered treatments. 300 eggs were used for  External (Egg Weight (EW), Egg Length (EL), Egg Width (EW), Eggshell Weight (SW), Shell Thickness (ST) and  Internal (Yolk Height (YH), Yolk Diameter (YD), Albumen Weight (AW), Albumen Diameter (AD), Albumen Height (AH), Haugh Unit (Hu)) egg parameters. Data were subjected to ANOVA of SAS Ver.9.2. Strain significantly (p < 0.05) affected all external egg parameters of Japanese quails except EW measured. The mean values obtained in EL (2.90 ± 0.01 cm) and ED (2.47 ± 0.01 cm) for PWS were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of CBS with 2.86 ± 0.01 (EL) and 2.36 ± 0.0 (ED) while 0.82 ± 0.01 g (SW) and 0.11 ± 0.02 cm (ST) for CBS were higher (p < 0.05) significantly than 0.80 ± 0.01 g (SW) and 0.07 ± 0.01 (ST) for PWS. Strain significantly (p < 0.05) influenced all internal egg parameters of Japanese quails exception of YH and YW measured. CBS had higher mean values of 3.25 ± 0.03 cm (AD), 2.35 ± 0.01 cm (YD) and 1.42 ± 0.06 (YC) than PWS with 3.14 ± 0.02 cm (AD), 2.30 ± 0.01 cm (YD) and 1.16 ± 0.03 (YC) while PWS was superior in AH (0.42 ± 0.01 cm), AW (1.77 ± 0.04 g) and Hu (62.10 ± 0.12%) compared to CBS with AH (0.40 ± 0.00 cm), AW (1.66 ± 0.03 g) and Hu (60.67 ± 0.38%). However, CBS had a better external egg quality because of the heavier and thicker shell mean which protect the internal egg contents while PWS performed better in internal egg parameters as Hu qualifies a good quality egg. In conclusion, Cinnamon brown strain of Japanese quails should be reared for egg production purpose as it has better external egg quality to protect the internal egg contents.