Magnesium in the water of Japanese quails kept under comfort zone and under thermal stress

The objective was to evaluate the increasing levels of magnesium in the water supplied to laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica), kept in climatic chambers under thermoneutral temperature and thermal stress, on their performance and morphometry of their organs. The birds were distributed in a completely randomized design, 2x4 factorial arrangement, 2 temperatures (24 and 32 ºC) and 4 levels of magnesium in the water (50, 150, 250 and 350 mg L-1), with six replicates and eight birds per experimental unit. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability level. The magnesium levels in the water did not affect (P > 0.05) the production performance and morphometry of the organs, with less water consumption at the magnesium level of 150 mg L-1, and birds kept at 32 °C had a reduction in feed consumption and feed conversion, but without affecting organ morphometry. Japanese quails in the production phase can consume water with magnesium levels up to 350 mg L-1 without having their production performance and morphometry of organs affected and raised in an environment with temperatures of up to 32 °C.

Medidas morfométricas del huevo fértil de codorniz (Coturnix coturnix japonica) sobre el peso al nacimiento

El estudio tuvo como objetivo relacionar medidas morfométricas del huevo de codorniz Coturnix coturnix japonica con el peso al nacimiento en una línea comercial de postura. Se evaluaron 274 aves al nacimiento, cuyos huevos fértiles fueron clasificados en tres categorías según el peso: (1) 10.00-10.99, (2) 11.00-11.99, (3) 12.00-12.99 g para la variable peso al nacimiento, mientras que las variables: diámetro transversal y diámetro longitudinal del huevo, índice de forma fueron evaluadas según cuartiles. Además se evaluó el sexo del ave. Se utilizó un modelo de bloques completamente al azar y correlaciones entre las variables cuantitativas. Se obtuvo una correlación media de 0.65 entre peso del huevo y diámetro longitudinal, y correlaciones bajas entre las variables diámetro longitudinal y transversal (0.15). El peso al nacimiento fue de 7.36±0.038, 7.92±0.036 y 8.47±0.058 g en las categorías 1, 2 y 3, respectivamente y de 7.83±0.0672, 7.81±0.0681, 7.69±0.0665 y 7.85±0.0682 g en los cuartiles 1, 2, 3 y 4, respectivamente. El índice de forma del huevo fue 70.22±0.321%. El peso de las codornices macho fue 7.84±0.0347 y en hembras de 8.00±0.0358 (p<0.05). El diámetro transversal y longitudinal del huevo permite seleccionar visualmente un huevo incubable, siendo el diámetro transversal el más preciso, debido a que no se quieren codornices pesadas al nacimiento.

Targeted Metabolomics to Assess Exposure to Environmental Chemicals of Concern in Japanese Quail at Two Life Stages

This proof-of-concept study characterizes the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) hepatic metabolome following exposure to benzo[a]pyrene, chlorpyrifos, ethinylestradiol, fluoxetine hydrochloride, hexabromocyclododecane, lead(II)nitrate, seleno-L-methionine, and trenbolone in embryos and adults. The analysis revealed effects on lipid metabolism following exposure to several chemicals at both life stages. The most pronounced effects were observed in embryos exposed to 41.1 μg/g chlorpyrifos. This work highlighted challenges and the need for further avian metabolomics studies.

Beyaz ve Kahverengi Varyetelerine Göre Japon Bıldırcın’larının (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Canlı Ağırlık ve Zoometrik Yapılarının Belirlenmesi

This study was carried out to determine some zoometric measurements and body weights in two different varieties of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), white and brown. For this purpose, live weights and variables of twelve different body measurements were evaluated in 30 white and brown varieties (15 males, 15 females), a total of 60 six-week-old quails housed under the same nutritional and environmental conditions. Although higher values were obtained in terms of average body weights at six weeks of age compared to many of the literature reports, there was no difference in terms of the two-color varieties compared in this study, while females were found to be significantly heavier than males. While white quails had higher values than brown ones in terms of head width, beak width, beak length, sternum length, tarsus length and wing length, females had higher values in live weight, body length, chest circumference and tarsus diameter variables according to gender. Positive correlations were found between body weights of six-week-old Japanese quails and the variables of skull length, body length, sternum length, middle finger length, wing length, chest circumference and tarsus diameter. Considering the fact that the consumption of quail will increase for the spread of quail breeding, it can be recommended to carry out more comprehensive studies on the factors that will enable people to prefer quail in nutrition.

Fitoterapia en la producción de la codorniz (coturnix coturnix japónica)

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar el efecto de una tintura de ajo (Allium sativum) más orégano (Origanum vulgare) en la terapéutica de la coccidiosis y su repercusión en los parámetros productivos de la codorniz. Con cuatro tratamientos: T1 (libre de coccidiostático), T2 (Sulfaquinoxalina Sódica 34 mg + Vitamina K a razón de 10 mL por cada 3.5 litros de agua), T3 (balanceado libre de coccidiostático + 10% de tintura distribuidos en 10 mL tintura/1litro de agua), T4 (balanceado libre de coccidistático + 20% de tintura distribuidos en 20 mL de tintura/1litro de agua). La tintura se elaboró a partir de una solución madre de ambos aditivos por el método de maceración. Se empleó un diseño completamente al azar con seis repeticiones; cada unidad experimental conformada por cinco aves. Para establecer las diferencias entre medias de los tratamientos se empleó la prueba de Tukey (P≤0.05). Se evaluaron las variables: ganancia de peso, consumo de alimento, índice de conversión alimenticia, masa del huevo, porciento de postura. Los resultados indicaron que el tratamiento más favorable fue el balanceado libre de coccidiostático + 20% de tintura (Ajo y orégano) distribuidos en 20 mL de tintura/L de agua (T4). La coprología se analizó con la prueba cuantitativa de flotación en tubo de ensayo para el diagnóstico parasitológico veterinario; al inicio y final de la investigación; se registró una disminución significativa del número de ooquistes de coccidias por gramos de heces en los tratamientos T3, T4 al final de experimento.

Effects of Personality Traits on the Food-Scratching Behaviour and Food Intake of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

Overall foraging success and ultimate fitness of an individual animal is highly dependent on their food-searching strategies, which are the focus of foraging theory. Considering the consistent inter-individual behavioural differences, personality may have a fundamental impact on animal food-scratching behaviour, which remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate how personality traits (i.e., boldness and exploration) affect the food-scratching behaviour and food intake of the domestic Japanese quail Coturnix japonica during the foraging process. The quails exhibited significant repeatability in boldness and exploration, which also constituted a behavioural syndrome. More proactive, that is, bolder and more explorative, individuals scratched the ground more frequently for food and began scratching earlier in a patch. Individuals that scratched more frequently had a longer foraging time and a higher food intake. The correlation between personality traits and temporary food intake during every 2 min varied over time and was sex dependent, with females exhibiting a positive correlation during the first half of the foraging stage and males after the initial stage. These findings suggest that personality traits affect the food-scratching behaviour and, thus, the food intake of quails. Our study provides insights into the impact of personality traits on animal’s foraging behaviour by influencing their food-searching strategies.

Preclinical therapeutics ex ovo quail eggs as a biomimetic automation-ready xenograft platform

Preclinical cancer research ranges from in vitro studies that are inexpensive and not necessarily reflective of the tumor microenvironment to mouse studies that are better models but prohibitively expensive at scale. Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays utilizing Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are a cost-effective screening method to precede and minimize the scope of murine studies for anti-cancer efficacy and drug toxicity. To increase the throughput of CAM assays we have built and optimized an 11-day platform for processing up to 200 quail eggs per screening to evaluate drug efficacy and drug toxicity caused by a therapeutic. We demonstrate ex ovo concordance with murine in vivo studies, even when the in vitro and in vivo studies diverge, suggesting a role for this quail shell-free CAM xenograft assay in the validation of new anti-cancer agents.