Effects of Stocking Density on the Performance Characteristics, Egg Quality, and Nutrient Composition of the Eggs of Japanese Quails (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica)
Purpose: The aim is to study the effects of stocking density on the performance characteristics, egg quality, and nutrient composition of the eggs of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Subjects and Methods: Two hundred and ninety-six (296) day-old sexed Japanese quails assigned to four different stocking densities (treatments) with four replicates conducted in the rainy season. The groups (I to IV) contained 11, 16, 21, and 26 quails in the approximate sex ratio of 1:1 (male: female) with stock densities 252.20 cm2, 173.43 cm2, 132.10 cm2, and 106.73 cm2/quail respectively. Standard procedures were adopted in data generation, collation and analyses. Results: The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in weight gain, hen-day production, hen-housed production, total egg /hen, external and internal egg parameters across the treatments. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 2.38 % and lowest mortality (2.27 %) were obtained from group one and compared with those in groups two and three. The highest mortality rate was observed in group IV (12.50 %). The proximate analysis and mineral composition of the eggs recorded the highest values from group I which was also compared with the rest of the groups. Conclusion: It was concluded that 173.43 cm2 and 132.10 cm2/quail bird compared well with the standard (252.20 cm2/quail bird) and hence could still be adopted in quail farming without compromising their welfare and performance.