Determination of Small Variation Effects of Egg Weight and Shape Index on Fertility and Hatching Rates in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

Abstract

This study examines the effects of egg shape index and egg weight which have small variations on the fertility rate, hatching performance, and hatchability of the Japanese quail. The fertile quail eggs were collected from Japanese quail flock at the same age. After appraising egg shape index and egg weight, they were categorized into five groups with tending to shape index (SI) and egg weight (EW): SI1 (eggs with shape index: <0.75), SI2 (0.75-0.80), SI3 (0.81-0.85), SI4 (0.86-0.90) and SI5 (0.91<), EW1 (eggs with weight (g): <9.99), EW2 (10.00-10.99), EW3 (11.00-11.99), EW4 (12.00-12.99) and EW5 (13.00<). At end of incubation, fertility rate, hatching performance and hatchability were determined as a percentage. The study was conducted with 3220 quail eggs. Results showed that eggs with SI1 and SI2 had higher hatching performance and hatchability than the SI3, SI4 and SI5 groups (P<0.001), while the fertility rate was low for groups with a shape index above 0.91 (SI5). An increase in fertility rate, hatching performance, and hatchability was observed for eggs weighing above 11 g. In addition to this, it was determined that egg shape index and weight have negative correlation on hatching performance.