ABSTRACT

The research investigated the influence of season on egg quality characteristic of sigmond strain

on Japanese quail. A total of one hundred experimental breeder Japanese quails were obtained

from the poultry unit of University Teaching and Research Farm. The animals were replicated

five times with 20 birds per replicate in a ratio of 5 male to 15 female. Five hundred and ninety

nine (599) eggs were generated in two seasons, consisting of 314 eggs in the Mid rain and 285

eggs in Late rain. 40 eggs was randomly selected in two season (that is 10 eggs in each week),

parameter measured in each season were egg weight, egg length, egg width. shell thickness,

shell ratio, egg shape index, egg surfrce area, yolk height, yolk width, yolk index, yolk weight,

albumen weight, albumen height and haugh unit. Data generated were subjected to analysis of

Variance (ANOVA) and student T test was used to compare significance level of means.

Multiple regressions were used to relate egg weight to external egg quality traits from week 1 to

week 4 in each season. The result showed that egg weight and egg surface area were

significantly (P<0.05) higher in the late rain (10.04 g and 20.55 mm2) than the mid rain (9.78 g

and 20.02 mm2) respectively. Seasonal effect was not observed (P>0.05) in egg length, egg

width, shape index, shell weight, shell ratio, shell thickness, albumen weight, albumen height,

haugh unit, yolk weight, yolk height. yolk diameter and yolk index. The regression of egg

weight against egg quality traits revealed significant relationships across the weeks in both

seasons except the first week of the Mid rain. The significant regression equations; were

associated with high coefficient of determination (R2) which ranged from 98.60 to 100% in the

Mid rain and 100.00% from week 1 to week 4 in the Late rain. Notable traits for predicting egg

weight in Mid rain includes; egg width, egg surface area, egg length and shape index whereas,

in the Late rain similar traits were implicated with an exception of egg width. In conclusion, the

variations observed in the egg weight and egg surface area shows that the Late rain improves

performance more than the Mid rain and the variation can be explored for possible genetic

improvement. Future research should attempt to evaluate the egg quality traits with respect to

additional seasons such as the Early and Late dry season.