The effects of environmental enrichment objects on behaviors ofJapanese quails at different cage stocking densities

Author(s):  
Atilla Taskin ◽  
Ufuk Karadavut

The aim of this study is to investigate the behaviors of and monitor the changes on behaviors of Japanese quails reared in different stocking density, through using different objects, (small red balls, bunch of rope, mirrors and beads) providing environmental enrichment (EE) in the cages of quails. Six hundred of 1 day old Japanese quail chicks (mixed sex) were used in this study. Birds were reared in battery cages with four floors, each of which has two separations. The quails were placed in cage dimension in the quantities of 10 quails (lower density: LD) and of 20 quails (higher density: HD) per separation. Our hypothesis was that EE would improve the welfare of quails. The birds were observed in their cages naturally in accordance with one-zero sampling, and home cage avoidance test was performed for these birds. While the applications have significant effect on feeding and relaxation behaviors (P<0.05 levels) in LD environment, the effect of comfort, social and other behaviors was realized at P<0.01 levels in the same environment. However in HD environment, only rest behavior was affected significantly in P<0.05 level, the other properties were affected in P<0.01 levels. The live weights weren’t affected from EE (for LD, P=0.134 and for HD P=0.216). It was determined in the result of this study that the objects hung in the quail cages had potential effect to improve the welfare of quails.

Behaviour ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amandine Béry ◽  
Richard Porter ◽  
Cécile Arnould

AbstractThis study examined the capacity of young Japanese quail to discriminate between a familiar cagemate (F) and an unfamiliar conspecific (U). Two tests of discrimination were initially compared: a simultaneous double choice test and a pair test allowing social pecking. Discrimination was more clearly demonstrated in the choice test, which was, therefore, used in the subsequent experiments. One-day-old chicks that had been housed in pairs after hatching spent significantly more time near F than a U stimulus bird and more frequently approached and attempted to interact with F. Seven-day-old chicks that were raised in large groups for the first 6 days, then in pairs for 24 h, subsequently displayed no significant differences in their responses to their recent pair partner versus an unfamiliar chick. On the other hand, chicks that were raised in pairs for 6 days, then housed with a new partner (F) for 24 h, more frequently approached and attempted to interact with F than a U bird. These results show that 24 h of pair contact beginning at hatching or 6 days of age is sufficient for quail to discriminate between a familiar cagemate and a stranger. This discrimination ability is influenced by the chicks' early social experience.


2011 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 233-237
Author(s):  
Han Wen Yuan ◽  
Fang Chen ◽  
Qiao Qing Xu ◽  
Shi Yuan Gong ◽  
Zhang Jie Chu ◽  
...  

The effects of stocking density on various growth parameters and sex reversal in the rice field eel (Monopterus albus) were investigated by evaluating steroid hormone, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and sex ratio. Fish (mean initial weight of 9.88 ± 0.70 g) were stocked to densities of 4, 20, 36, 52, 68, 84 or 100 fish/m2 in cages (2 m × 1 m × 1.5 m) in a pond, with five replicate cages for each density. Fish were fed for 420 days on a formulated isocaloric diet containing 40.22% crude protein and 12.86 MJ/kg. Serum E2 and T concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassays. There were no significant differences in final bodyweight (FBW) and daily weight gain (DWG) for fish in the groups containing less than 52 fish/m2, while FBW and DWG were significant lower in groups at 68 fish/m2 or more. Specific growth rate (SGR) differed significantly between the 84 and 100 fish/m2 groups compared with the 4, 20 and 36 fish/m2 groups. There was no significant difference in SGR in groups containing less than 84 fish/m2. There were no significant difference between the 4 and 20 fish/m2 groups in net yield (NY), but these groups did differ significantly from the other groups. The final condition factors of fish stocked at 84 or 100 fish/m2 were significantly lower than fish stocked at the other densities. E2 and T hormone concentrations declined as stocking density increased, while GSI values increased initially but then reduced with increasing stocking density. Female ratio and survival decreased with increasing stocking density. The proportion of male fish was significantly greater in the three highest stocking density groups. Therefore, high stocking density may promote sex change from female to male in M. albus.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Dreiseitl

&nbsp; The resistance Heils Hanna (HH) was postulated in several tens of 471 previously tested winter barley cultivars. In this paper, new tests on 29 of these cultivars are reported. Thirty-two reference isolates of Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei held in the pathogen genebank at the Agricultural Research Institute in Kromeriz, Ltd. including a Japanese isolate and five Israeli isolates were used for response tests. However, the resistance HH conferred by the gene Mla8 and herein characterised by reaction type 0 to an old Japanese isolate known as Race I was now postulated only in four cultivars. In the other 25 cultivars another resistance, characterised by reaction type 0 to Race I and also to two Israeli isolates, was detected. In addition to the two mentioned resistances, eight known (Bw, Dr2, Ha, IM9, Ln, Lv, Ra and Sp) resistances were found in the set examined. Lomerit was the only registered cultivar tested here in which the newly detected resistance was present alone, therefore, it is recommended that this resistance be designated Lo.


Author(s):  
A K Wati ◽  
R Dewanti ◽  
P Fadilla ◽  
M Rifki ◽  
M Cahyadi

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno P. Berto ◽  
Sergian V. Cardozo ◽  
Walter L. Teixeira Filho ◽  
Ana Maria R. Ferreira ◽  
Carlos Wilson G. Lopes

The purpose of this study was to characterize Eimeria bateri oocysts and to evaluate the aflatoxin effect in the morphometry of sporulated oocysts in Japanese quails infected naturally. Of a total of 50 quails naturally infected by E. bateri were randomly divided into two groups with 25 birds each. In one of them, quails were orally administered with aflatoxin in dose of 0.04 mg/kg body weight previously. Both experimental groups shed E. bateri oocysts. These oocysts were subspherical to ellipsoidal, 25.1 x 18.9 Lim, with bi-layered wall. Micropyle and residuum were absent, but one or more polar granules were present. Sporocysts elongate ovoid, 12.5 x 7.4 μm. Stieda and substieda bodies were present. Sporocyst residuum was dispersed and sporozoites presented a nucleus and a refractile body. Histograms confirmed the presence of a single species, E. bateri. Linear regression proved that E. bateri oocysts are polymorphic, due, basically, to shape of these oocysts. The comparative morphometry between two experimental groups demonstrated that the aflatoxin influenced significantly in the E. bateri oocysts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elwy A. Ashour ◽  
Mohamed S. El-Kholy ◽  
Mahmoud Alagawany ◽  
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack ◽  
Laila A. Mohamed ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves and/or seed powder on laying Japanese quail performance in terms of egg production, egg quality, blood serum characteristics, and reproduction. In total, 168 Japanese quails (120 hens and 48 males) at eight weeks of age in laying period were randomly distributed to four treatment groups, with six replicates per group and seven birds (five hens and two males) per replicate. The first group (G1) served as a control group, while G2, G3 and G4 groups were supplemented with M. oleifera leaves (ML) and M. oleifera seeds (MS) and their combination ((1 g/kg ML; 1 g/kg MS; and 1 ML g/kg + 1 MS g/kg (MSL), respectively). From the results, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, fertility and hatchability from fertile eggs, egg and yolk index, and Haugh unit were not affected by dietary treatments. However, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and hatchability were significantly increased and blood aspartate transaminase (AST) and urea decreased in the MS treatment. Both triglycerides and total cholesterol were reduced (p < 0.05) in all treatments with ML, MS, and MSL, with no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, total protein, globulin, and A/G ratio among dietary treatment. Our results clearly indicated that the inclusion of M. oleifera seeds in Japanese quail diet significantly increased egg production and improved hatchability, along with some egg quality parameters, and also lowered some blood biochemical components.


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sarica ◽  
S. Boga ◽  
U.S. Yamak

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for <I>ad libitum</I>. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm<sup>2</sup> and 500 cm<sup>2</sup> per hen compared to the other densities (<I>P</I> < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> and 1 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000–2 000 cm<sup>2</sup> densities in order to improve their welfare and performance.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (2) ◽  
pp. C578-C584 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Carson ◽  
S. E. Alway

Stretch overload-induced activation of satellite cells in the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle was examined in full-grown adult (12 wk old) and aged (90 wk old) Japanese quail. 5'-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) constant-release pellets (0.22 mg BrdU.g body wt-1.day-1) were implanted subcutaneously before weighting the left wing of each bird. Nuclei that incorporated BrdU were localized by immunohistochemistry after 1 or 2 wk of stretch overload. Total fiber number was quantified by counting all fibers in a histological cross section from the midbelly of the ALD. Aging reduced increases in ALD mass and fiber number during 2 wk of stretch overload. Fiber proliferation in the ALD of aged birds also demonstrated an altered time course. The percentage of BrdU-positive nuclei associated with muscle fibers and the percentage of fibers associated with BrdU-positive nuclei did not differ between age groups. The altered time course of new fiber formation in the ALD of aged birds during 2 wk of stretch overload does not appear to be related to the capability to activate satellite cells.


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