Livestock Studies 2002, Vol 42, Num, 1     (Pages: 045-058)

The effect of the season at sexual maturity on some egg quality traits in quail

Öznur POYRAZ 1 ,Zehra AKINCI 2 ,Metin ERDOĞAN 2 ,Sükrü GÜRLER 1

1 A.Ü. Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
2 AKÜ. Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Afyon
- This study was held to determine the effect of season at sexual maturity on egg quality traits in quail. Animal material of this research was consisted of three quail groups which hatched in February, May, and October and the started to lay in April (Spring), July (Summer), and December (Winter) respectively. Throughout the first 12 weeks of laying period the eggs which is produced by this three quail groups were examined to determine of the egg weight, eggshell weight, shell thickness and internal egg quality traits. Analysis of variance and Duncan test were used for statistical analysis of the data. Results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) effect of season at first laying egg on egg weight and some external and internal egg quality traits. The egg weight was significantly (P<0.05) heavier in winter group than the others. Keywords : Quail, season at sexual maturity, egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, internal egg quality