ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to evaluate the feather distribution, pattern and growth traits of female Japanese quail reared in the humid tropical environment. Sixty (60) day old hatched female Japanese quails comprising of 30 Cinnamon brown and 30 Panda white varieties were used for the experiment. Each group of birds were replicated 3 times with IO birds per replicate. Data collected were subjected to T-test statistical analysis. Data were collected on the linear body parameters of the birds on weekly basis, data on feather number, feather color, and feather distribution were collected at the end of the study, while weekly feather loss were collected on weekly basis. The data indicated a progressive (p<0.05) increase in body weight and linear body measurements over the eight weeks period for both variety of female Japanese quail. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in the linear measurements in the breast girth, thigh length, keel length, shank length, and wing length parameters among the two female Japanese quail varieties across the weeks while there were no significant (p>0.05) differences between the body weight between the two Japanese quails recorded across the week. Cinnamon brown showed high body weight and linear measurements than panda white variety. There were no significant effect (p>0.05) observed in feather number in the two varieties of female Japanese quails across the week. Cinnamon brown (2236.85) showed higher feather number over the Panda white variety (2228.98) of Japanese quail from 3° to 8 week. Also, the there were no significant effect (p>0.05) observed in FCR in the two varieties of female Japanese quails. The low feed intake recorded by Cinnamon brown (3.67) showed better and efficient utilization of feed intake for weight gain. There were no significant effect (p>0.05) observed in feather loss in the two varieties of female Japanese quails across the week. The result showed that Panda white variety had more weekly feather loss (0.36g, 0.38g, 0.30g, 0.50g, 0.37g, and 0.36g) than Cinnamon brown variety which recorded (0.37g, 0.25g, 0.27g, 0.29g, 0.17g, and 0.29g). There were no observable difference in feather distribution, except for colour pattern between the two varieties of female Japanese quail studied. The pattern of their feather distribution followed a distinct tract in the two varieties. The tracts distribution on parts of their body determines the colour pattern of their feather. Seven major feather tracts were observed on the two varieties of Japanese quail studied. From the study, Cinnamon brown showed superiority over the Panda white variety of female Japanese quail in their body weight, linear body parameters as well as in feather number over the eight week period. Although not significant (p>0.05), higher body weight, linear body parameters, and feather number recorded by Cinnamon brown and the less number of feather weight loss over the Panda white variety suggest that Cinnamon brown variety may be selected for improvement for meat or egg type among varieties of Japanese quail.