The Effect of Feeding Different Dietary Nutrient Levels on Sexual Maturity of Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica)

This study was conducted primarily to determine the effect of feeding different dietary nutrient levels on sexual maturity of Japanese quails with special reference to the age and body weight at point of lay, the weight of first egg and gonad development of male and female quails. One hundred and eighty Japanese quail, aged 28 days were used for the experiment, which lasted for 5 weeks (day 28-63). The quails were randomly assigned to 5 treatments in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Each treatment consisted of four replicates (two male replicates and two female replicates). The control diet (T1) consisted of 24 % crude protein (CP), 5 % fat, 6 % crude fibre (CF) and 2600 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME). The other diets varied in the level of one of the nutrients in the control with T2 as low energy diet (2200 kcal/kg ME), T3, low crude protein diet (17 % CP), T4, high fat diet (10 % fat) and T5, high fibre diet (10 % CF). The dietary treatments and water were given ad libitum. Data on attainment of sexual maturity was taken. One quail was slaughtered weekly per replicate for gonad weight records and for measurement of cloacal gland area. It was observed that while the birds fed the high fibre diet first came into lay (at day 48), their final body weight (123.4 g) and egg weight (6.6 g) were low in relation to birds in the other treatment groups. Birds fed the high fat diet had the highest body weight (154.5 g) and egg weight (8.5 g) but attained late sexual maturity (at day 57). Birds fed the control diet laid their first egg on day 49 with body weight of 137.2 g and egg weight of 8.0 g, while those fed the low CP diet laid their first egg on day 52 with body weight of 134.8 g and egg weight of 7.2 g. Birds fed the low energy diet did not attain sexual maturity during the experimental period. This study revealed that the nutrient levels of the diets affected the gonad development, thus, the attainment of sexual maturity in Japanese quail. It was evident from this study that while chronological age and body weight were important traits in the attainment of sexual maturity, the nutrient content of the feed (energy in this study) was a major determinant of the attainment of sexual maturity.