ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of weight group and linear parameters on the growth performance of Sigmond strain .Japancsc quail. The study was carried out in the Poultry unit of thc Teaching and Research farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. A total of 127 (day-old) quails were used for the experiment. The birds were weighed and grouped into 3 different weight group IIeavy(30-40g), Medium (20- 29g) and Light (10-19g). Each weight group as a treatment was replicated three times.The design of the experiment was completely randomised design (CRD). Significant differences (p<O.05) were observed in daily feed intake, ddilv weight gain and feed conversion ratio. whereas, there was no variation among the thiee lines in percent mortality. Based on the average values of the linear traits, the three lines showed variation (p< 0.05) in all the traits considered except keel length. The heavy line revealed significantly (p< 0.05) shorter shank length (2.79-3.96 cm) and longer wing length (7.68-10.55 cm). whereas, the medium revealed longer shank length (2.82-4.32 cm) and shorter wing length (7.20-8.90 cm). The regression euation relating body weight to linear traits were all significant at weeks 2. 4 and 6. The was very high especially for the heavy and medium lines, which ranged thus: (75.20-86-50), while R2(°A) for the light line ranged from a medium value of 64.70 to a high value of 86.20.l'he high coefficient of determination shows that body weight can largely be predicted from the linear traits using multiple regression. The medium line happens to be the best line because they consume less feed and have a better feed conversion ratio (456b) than the other lines. Farmers can reliably obtain the body weight of their flocks by substituting their values in the predicted equations.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Certification ii

Declaration iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of content vi

List of tables viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1 .2. Statement of problem 2

1.3 Objectives 2

1 .4 Justification 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Over view of Nigeria Poultry Industry 4

2.2 A Brief History of Japanese Quail 5

2.3 Distribution and habitat 5

2.4 Important Specific Characteristics of Japanese Quail 6

2.5 Relationship Between body weight and Linear Parameters 7

2.6 Effect of Genotype on Linear Body Performance 8

2.7 Effect of Weight Group on Linear Body Parameters C)

2.8 Body Weight and Growth Rate in Quail 9

CI IAPTER TI-TREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METI-IODS

3.1 Study Area II

3.2 Management of Experimental Birds II

3.3 Experimental Procedure 13

3.4 Data Collection 13

3.5 Data Analysis 14

CI-IAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Growth performance parameters of three lines of.Japanese quail 16

4.2 Comparison of linear traits across weeks in three lines 21

4.3 Regression equations relating bodyweight to linear body traits

at weeks 2, 4 and 6 in three lines of Japanese quail 28

CIIAPTER 5

Conclusion and Recommendations 36

REFERENCES 38