GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF DUAL-PURPOSE AND HEAVY JAPANESE QUAILS

There are three main types of domestic quails – light type (egg-laying), intermediate heavy (combined or dual-purpose), and heavy (meat-type). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the growing performance and slaughter traits of fattening quails from the dual-purpose and heavy production types. Three groups were formed – group A (dual-purpose), group D (heavy type, origin: Germany), and group M (heavy type, origin: Bulgaria). After quails sexing on the 16th day of age, there were formed six subgroups: Am, Af, Dm, Df, Mm, and Mf. The fattening period lasted until 35 days of age. The highest live weight at the end of fattening was found out in group M and the lowest – in group А, 207.1±2.98 g and 169.9±1.78 g respectively (P<0.001). The most efficient feed conversion ratio was noted in group D (3.55), and the poorest in the light dual-purpose type А (3.84). The highest survival rate was detected in group М (96.6%), and the lowest one – in the light type, group А (94.2%). Carcass weight tended to be higher in females than in males from all groups. The highest relative share of breast meat was demonstrated in group М: 26.83±0.42% and 26.54±0.2% in male and female birds, respectively (P<0.01). Valuable meat of the carcass of dual-purpose and meat types quails varied from 66.3 to 68.5% on average. The experimental results showed that the productive type of domestic quails has a strong influence on their meat production performance and should be taken into consideration in research studies in this field of poultry science.