Effects of cage stocking density on egg quality traits in Japanese quails [Bıldırcınlarda kafes yoğunluğunun yumurta kalitesi üzerine etkileri]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different stocking densities on external and internal egg quality traits and to measure the phenotypic correlation coefficients between external and internal egg quality traits. two hundred and sixteen birds of japanese quail at 14thweek of age were used in this experiment. the birds were divided randomly into three groups,60,72 and 84. each group subdivided into 4 replicates,where the cages floor spaces were 200,167 and 143 cm2/bird; respectively. the obtained results revealed that birds housed at 200 cm2/bird laid heavier egg weight (12.24 g),with significant (p<0.05) higher external quality traits,including shell weight (1.27 g),eggshell ratio (10.55%),shell thickness (0.23 mm) and egg shell density (48.70 mg/cm2). similarly,internal quality traits,including yolk height (10.72 mm),albumen height (5.67 mm),yolk diameter (24.97 mm),yolk index (43.49%) and haugh unit (92.77). shell weight positively correlated with yolk height (p<0.01),albumen height (p<0.01),albumen weight (p<0.05) and haugh unit (p<0.01). it was concluded that,housing japanese quail at low cage floor space associated with depression in external and internal egg quality traits. moreover there is an economical hazard of housing quails at cage floor space lower than 200 cm2/bird. © 2015,veteriner fakultesi dergisi. all rights reserved.