Effect of different fattening period duration on meat productivity of domestic quails

Abstract

Abstract. The study was conducted with 224 domestic quails from the specialized meat-type WG line. The duration of fattening period and sex on productive traits, slaughter traits and meat quality of quails was evaluated. The study has shown that the longer duration of the fattening period in quails from the meat-type line WG was associated with lower production efficiency, with more reduction after the 35th day of life. The production efficiency in male quails was lower compared to that in females. The dispersion analysis demonstrated that the determination of 72.2% and 69.6% of dressed carcass weight and deboned meat weight, respectively, depended on fattening period duration (p<0.001). When fattening increased from 28 to 42 days, the amount of feed necessary for one bird increased by 73% and 87%, corresponding to increased costs by 64.5% and 77%. For production of 1 kg dressed quail carcasses, the necessary feed increased by 42.3-45.8% on a weight basis and by 35-37.7% on a cost basis. For production of 1 kg deboned quail meat, corresponding increases are by 42.1-49.5% and 34.8-41.2%, respectively. The period between 28 and 35 days of age was the most appropriate for planning slaughter of WG quails. During that period, the economic efficiency, although already declining, was still within acceptable limits and the increase in quantitative traits in both sexes – still relevant, making the produce more attractive for consumers. With age, the changes in colour characteristics of M. pectoralis superficialis result in darkening of meat (p<0.001). Thus, it assumes nuances specific rather for game meat. This effect is desirable, as it improves the commercial presentation of domestic quail meat in line with consumers’ attitudes.

Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

“…Also, according to Petek et al (2022) , younger quail meat samples had greater pH levels, suggesting a decrease in water-holding capacity, while older quail carcasses had higher values. In contrast, Lukanov et al (2021) found no significant differences in the pH value between the slaughter age (28, 35, and 42 d) and gender. According to Maynard et al (2023) , processing different live weights and straight-run broilers may have contributed to the higher yield of broilers in large bird markets, with quality varying between males and females at a given weight.…”

“…Similar data might have resulted from the small difference in slaughter ages. Furthermore, Lukanov et al (2021) indicated that the color and pH levels in the breast muscle of meat-type quail (WG line) ranged from 5.75 to 6.26 and were unaffected by gender or the age when the quail was slaughtered (28, 35, and 42 d).…”

Carcass characteristics, physicochemical traits, texture and microstructure of young and spent quails meat

“…Despite the centuries-old tradition of raising quail for meat and eggs, it was only in the early 20th century that quail's ability to produce eggs was discovered to be greater than that of other poultry species, and in later years interest in meat-type quail production increased again. According to Lukanov et al (2023) , currently global quail egg production is 1.2 to 1.3 million tons, while quail meat production is 200 to 240,000 tons.…”

“…In Poland, quail meat is obtained mainly by slaughtering Pharaoh quail broilers at 40 to 45 d of age at 150 to 210 g; slaughtering surplus reproductive males at 7 wk of age, and slaughtering spent quails after the egg production period ( Kraszewska, 1978 ; Rutkowski, 2005 ). Studies conducted in recent years indicate that the rearing of Japanese quail kept in the intensive system is best completed at the age of 4 to 5 wk at a body weight of 160 to 259 g ( Lukanov et al, 2021 ; Dalle Zootte and Cullere, 2024 ).…”

Analysis of Meat Mineral Content in Cemani Chicken with Homozygous (Fm/Fm) and Heterozygous (Fm/fm+) Genotypes

“…Black pigmentation in the birds is called Fibromelanosis. Abnormal accumulation of eumelanin in tissues causes the Fibromelanosis trait in the chickens body and its internal organ (Hutt 1949;Lukanov & Genchev 2013). The presence of a duplication rearrangement in the genomic region containing the Endhotelin3 gene (EDN3) on chromosome 20 cause of Fibromelanosis (Fm) mutation in Cemani and Silkie chickens (Shinomiya et al 2012;Dorshorst et al 2010;Dharmayanthi et al 2017).…”