GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PANDA WHITE AND CINNAMON BROWN STRAINS OF JAPANESE QUAIL

Abstract

Twelve parent stocks of Japanese quails consisting of two cocks and ten hens from each of Panda White and Cinnamon Brown strains were engaged in straight breeding to produce sixty day-old chicks in three consecutive hatches with thirty quails per strain. The progeny were used in a four-week (3, 4, 5, and 6) experiment to study their growth performance, which was statistically compared with T-test statistic. Results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in average initial body weight, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio but differed significantly (p<0.05) in average final weight and average daily weight gain with corresponding mean values for Cinnamon Brown (125.14±0.06 g and 2.86±0.06 g respectively) being higher than those of Panda White (101.55±0.07 g and 2.18±0.00 g respectively). Panda White was significantly (p<0.05) superior in body length (10.34 ± 0.16 – 16.52 ± 0.23 cm) at 3-6 weeks, body girth (8.33±0.05 cm) at 5 weeks, shank length at 3 (2.25±0.05 cm) and 5 (3.41±0.08 cm) weeks, wing length (6.71±0.19 cm, 8.02± 0.11 cm and 8.24±0.11 cm) and thigh length (2.79 ±0.07 cm, 3.46±0.05 cm and 3.61 ±0.05 cm) at 3, 5 and 6 weeks, respectively. Cinnamon Brown had significantly (p<0.05) higher shank length (2.32±0.06 cm) and body girth (3.91±0.42) at 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. Cinnamon Brown possessed higher genetic potential for large body size and should be selected at six weeks using body weight and weight gain to improve heavy breed that tends to broiler strain. Panda White may be selected to improve egg laying strain.