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 1 5 female. Five hundred and ninety nine (599) eggs were generated in two seasons, consisting of 3 14 eggs in the Mid rain and 285 eggs i' 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 surface 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 2002 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 aginst 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 1 OQ.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.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement .iv

Table of contents v

List of tables .vi

Abstracts vii

CI-IAPTER ONE

1 .0 Background information 1

• 1 Statement of problem 3

1 .2 Objectives .3

1 .3 Justification 4

CFIAPTER TWO

2.0 literature review .5

2.1.1 Japanese quail eggs

2.2 Nutritional requirement for Japanese quail 7

23 Effect of season on quail egg production and egg quality

Characteristics 10

2.4 Influence of age on egg quality characteristics .14

2.5 Egg quality traits in Japanese quail 16

2.6 Prediction of egg quality parameters in the japanese quail 19

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and method

3. 1 study area 21

3.2 Management of experimental bird 21

3.3 Data collection 22.

3.4 Parameter of interest 23.

3.4.1 External quality traits 23

3.4.2 Internal quality traits .24

3.5 Data analysis ..24

CI-IAPTER FOUR

4.0 Result and discussion .25

4.1 Means and standard error of egg quality traits of Japanese

Quail in Mid and Late rain 25

4.2 Weekly egg quality traits in mid and late rain 30

4.3 Influence of season on egg number on sigmond strain on

Japanese quail .33

4.4 Regression equation relating egg weight to external traits at

Week 1 through 4 in Japanese quail 35

CI-IAPTER FIVE

5.1 Conclusion and recommendation 39

REFERENCE 41