Optimization of age in Japanese quail at photo stimulation for better egg quality and hatching results

Light plays an important role in controlling the age at sexual maturity in birds; attaining sexual maturity at an appropriate age and weight is the key to reproductive success and the present study was an effort in the same direction. To develop specific practice for quail production and to optimize the best age for photo-stimulation present experiment was conducted. In total 225 females and 75 males of 5 week old were studied. A completely randomized design with three treatment of 5 replicates with 15 female and 5 male each, was applied. Treatment consisted 3 different ages of photostimulation (30, 35 and 40 days). Reproduction performance (fertile egg, hatchability, dead germ, dead in shell percent and hatchling body weight) and egg characteristics (egg weight, shell thickness, yolk index and Haugh unit) were evaluated. Study revealed that the photo-stimulating the birds at 35 days improve egg weight and hatchling weight. Birds stimulated at 40 days of age showed improved yolk index and Haugh unit score. Photo-stimulation at 40 days of age significantly influence the infertile, hatchability, dead germ, dead in shell %. It was concluded that photo-stimulation at 40 days of age not only improves reproductive and egg quality traits but also gives the consistency in all respects of these traits.

Key Words: Photo-stimulation, age, egg-quality, hatching-trait, Japanese quail.