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QUAIL (BATER)

 

            Quail probably the smallest avian species used for production of table eggs and meat. Because of prolific egg production and meat yield, it attains the status of viable commercial poultry enterprises. Quail   has unique qualities of hardiness and adaptability to diversified agro- climatic condition. Several attributes of this species making it ideal for rural poultry production for creation of rural employment for solving gender issue in employment and to provide supplemental income and protein requirement to rural farmers.

 

SALIENT FEATURES OF   QUAIL:

 

·         Low space requirement (5 – 6 adult quail can be reared in one sq. ft.)

·          Short generation interval (3 – 4 generation in a year)

·         Fast growth (170 – 190 gm body weight at 5th week)

·         Low feed consumption (550 – 600 gm of feed / bird up to 5th week)

·         Early maturity (egg production starts at 6 – 7 weeks of age)

·         High rate of egg laying (280 eggs in a year / bird)

·         Low cost of production

·         Resistant to common diseases of chicken

·         Meat and egg is a table delicacy, nutritious

·         Quail  has an aphrodisiac effect

 

BREEDS:

1)       Cari – Uttam ( broiler quail line)        (2)  Cari – Sweta ( white feathered quail )

3)   Cari – Ujjwal(white breasted quail)     (4)  Cari – Pearl   ( white egg shell line )

 

LICENCE FOR QUAIL BUSINESS:

                Government of India has permitted farming of the domesticated quails for commercial purposes keeping in view of its potential in the country vide. Ministry letter no.  3-22/84-FRN (WL), dated 72/06/1997 and exempted from wild life (protection) Act 1972. The license fee for various business as follows: Farming- Rs 200/-, Trading- Rs 500/-, Catering- Rs 500/- and Hatchery- Rs 1000/-. License will be issued  by this organization  subject to production of any one of the photo – identity in original. 

 

REARING SYSTEM:

                Quails are reared in intensive system (confine to the house). Quails can be reared in both deep litter system and cage (battery) system. Rearing space required in floor type is 0.2 sq.ft /adult quail and in cage (battery) system is 0.16 sq.ft /adult quail. The quail farm should be located at a distance not less than 2.5-3.0 km. away from wildlife and forest area where there is human habitation between the farm and wildlife/forest notified area.

   

 BROODING:

1) In quails 0-3 weeks period is called brooding period; however in winter brooding   period extended up to 4th weeks. Quail is not the best starter in their life and will really need some tender loving care to go them safely through the first week of life. The average mortality is 6-10% during brooding period.

2) The brooding of day old quails can be done using infra red bulbs or gas brooders and traditional brooding system. Starting temperature is 1000 F followed by reduction of 50 F in every 4 days up to 3 weeks of age.

3) The drowning of chicks is prevented by putting marbles or pebbles in waterers for first 7 days.

 

FEEDING AND WATERING:

                                Feed ingredients used in chicken ration may also be used for quails. However, the demands for some of the nutrients particularly proteins minerals like manganese, zinc, copper, iron etc., and vitamin requirement is higher in quails because of its fast growth.

 

SUGGESTED PRACTICAL LEVEL OF NUTRIENTS IN DIET OF QUAIL

 

Age(week)

Starting

0 – 3 weeks

Growing

4  –  5

weeks

Laying/   breeding

M.E.(K.cal/Kg)

2800

2800

2600

 

Protein %

27

24

22

 

Calcium %

0.8

0.8

3.0

 

Available phosphorus

0.3

0.3

0.45

 

Source: Feeding of poultry, B. Panda et al (1990) ICAR

 

 

 

 

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF QUAIL (Home farm testing)  

 

Age in weeks

Average Body weight            (gm )

Total feed consumption(gm)

Cumulative feed efficiency

1

25.6

45.7

1.78

2

52.2

136.9

2.62

3

87.9

237.2

2.69

4

136.8

391.8

2.86

5

192.1

561.6

2.92

 

 EGG PRODUCTION:

                Quail starts to lay at 5-6 week of age and reach peak production by about 9-10 week. Under favorable environments, quails produced an average of 280-290 eggs per year. Quails require about 16-18 hours light for optimum production. 75% quail eggs are laid between 3 to 6 p.m. and 20% of the eggs in darkness. Quail eggs are multi-colored and heavily mottled with black, brown and blue. Weight of egg is 6.7 – 13.8 gm.

 

DIESASE CONTROL:

                In quails the disease pattern remains the same as that of chicken. Our experiences suggested that they are more resistant than chicken. Quails are not required any vaccination and deworming in their life. Because, quails are reported to be resistant to Ranikhet disease and ascardiosis(round worm).   The commonly encountered diseases are coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis and aspergilosis.

 

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF QUAIL MEAT AND EGG:

Quail meat has nutritive value, amazing taste  game flavor, tender, very delicious with low coloric value and high dry matter. Quail meat contains 20.54% protein, 3.85% fat, 0.56 % carbohydrates and 1.12 % minerals. Quail egg is considered to be low in calorie, cholesterol, higher nutritious and antidote for tuberculosis.

 

ECONOMICS ANALYSIS OF QUAIL PRODUCTION:

 

Standard of broiler quail production

Economics of  quail farming (production of 500 broiler quails per week )

 

particulars

Floor type

Cage type

Particulars

Floor type

Cage type

Space requirement (sq.ft /bird)

 

0.2

0.16

Capital requirement

 (Rs/ quail)

 

45.27

43.70

Cost of day old   chicks (each)

Rs 5/-

Rs 5/-

Net profits

 (Rs/ quail)

02.88

03.23

Cost of feed (per kg)

Rs 8.50/-

Rs 8.50/-

Cost of production

(Rs/kg live wt.)

74.64

68.88

Body weight 5th week

180 gm

190 gm

Feed consumption till 5th week/ bird

0.64 kg

0.62kg

  Net profits

 (Rs/kg live wt.)

 

16.00

16.98

Mortality

10 %

6 %

Sale price (live bird)

Rs 16 /-

Rs 16 /-

Manure production per bird(app.)

0.5kg

0.5kg

                                Input – out ratio

1:1.21

1:1.25

Sale price of manure per ton.

Rs 450/-

Rs 450/-

Source: Sadana’s all India poultry business directory (year book) 2003 – 04

 

AVAILABILITY OF QUAIL CHICKS:

                                Commercial day old chicks @ Rs 3/- per chick, grown up one week old @ Rs 4/- and two week old @ Rs 6/- per chick and Commercial fertile hatching eggs of quail @ Rs 1/-per H.egg  are available on advance payment. Payments can be made through DD drawn in favor of “Pay and Accounts Officer (AH&D)”, Mumbai-38 and should be sent to “The Director, Central Poultry Development Organization (Western Region), Aarey milk colony, Mumbai-400 065”.

 

 

Age(week)

Starting

0 – 3 weeks

Growing

4  –  5

weeks

Laying/   breeding

M.E.(K.cal/Kg)

2800

2800

2600

 

Protein %

27

24

22

 

Calcium %

0.8

0.8

3.0

 

Available phosphorus

0.3

0.3

0.45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TURKEY FARMING

THE NEW PROSPECT OF THE MILLENIUM

 

        Turkey birds in India have gained some popularity in recent years and mainly reared for meat purpose and its meat is the leanest among other domestic avian species. Turkey has a better meat -to -bone ratio than broiler meat. The meat of turkey has nutritional and sensorial properties, which make it almost ideal raw material for rational and curative nutrition. The turkey can produce 30gm of digestible protein from 100gm of feed. The dressing percentage of turkey is 80-87% which is highest of all farm animal species. Turkey is synonymous with Christmas. Turkey  demands has high degree of seasonality with  demands rising in winters and festival seasons. Therefore, turkey could be reared with high profit margins particularly in winters.

 

ECONOMICS PARAMETERS IN TURKEY FARMING

 

Male- female ratio                                       - 1:5

Average egg weight                                                   - 65gm

Average day old poult weight                  - 50gm

Age at sexual maturity                               - 30 weeks

Annual egg production                             - 80-100 eggs/ year

Incubation period                                       - 28 days

Egg production period                               - 24 weeks

Number of poults per hen                       - 40-50

           Marketable age                                             -14-15weeks(male),17-18weeks (female)

Marketable weight                                      - 7.5 kg (male), 5.5 kg (female)

Average feed consumption up to

Marketable age                                        - 24-26 kg (male), 17-19 kg (female)

           Feed efficiency                                       - 2.7 to 2.8

  BREEDS :

1) Broad breasted bronze – black plumage         2) Broad breasted white    - white plumage

 

REARING SYSTEM:

1) Free range system: - 200-250 adult turkeys reared in one acre of fenced land. Shelter should be provided during night @ 3-4 sq.ft./ bird.

2) Intensive system: - housing protects turkey from sun, rain, wind, predators and provide comfort.

 

FLOOR, FEEDER AND WATERER SPACE REQUIREMENT:

 

Age in week

Floor space(sq.ft)

Feeder space(sq.ft)

Linear feeder

Waterer space(sq.ft.)

Linear waterer

0-4

1.25

2.5

1.5

5-16

2.50

5.0

2.5

16-29

4.00

6.5

2.5

breeder

5.00

7.5

2.5

              The temperament of turkey is usually nervous; hence they get panicky at all stages. Hence, entry of visitors in to the turkey’s house should be restricted.

 

BROODING:-

1) In turkey 0-4 weeks period is called brooding period; however in winter brooding period extended up to 5-6 weeks. Turkey is not the best starter in their life and will really need some tender loving care to them safely through the first week of life. The average mortality is 6-10% during brooding period.

2) The brooding of day old poult can be done using infra red bulbs or gas brooders and traditional brooding system. Starting temperature is 950 F followed by weekly reduction of 50 F per week up to 4 weeks of age.

3) Young poults by nature are reluctant to eat and drink in the first few days of life, because of bad eye sight and nervousness. Hence, they have to force feed. In force feeding, milk should be feed @ 100 ml  per liter of water and one boiled egg have to be given @ one per 10 poults for up to 15 days.

4) Colour marbles or pebbles placed in feeders and waterers will attract poults towards them.  First 2 days, Colored egg fillers to be used as feeder. Some chopped green leaves should also be added to the feed to improve the feed intake.

 

FEEDING AND WATERING:

                                Feed ingredients used in chicken ration may also be used for turkey. Turkey’s requirement particularly for vitamins A, D, niacin and choline is substantially higher than for chicken.

 

SUGGESTED PRACTICAL LEVEL OF NUTRIENTS IN DIET OF TURKEY

 

Age(week)

Starting

0 – 6 weeks

Growing

 

18 weeks to 4     weeks before   laying 

Laying/   breeding

6 – 12 weeks

12 – 18  weeks

M.E.(k.cal/Kg)

3000

2850

2850

2750

2700

Protein %

28

24

16

14

15

Calcium %

0.9

1.0

0.8

0.8

2.75

Available phosphorus

0.45

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.5

Source: Feeding of poultry, B. Panda et al (1990) ICAR

 

 

 

                Greens or vegetables waste can be feed up to 50% of the total diet on dry matter basis to turkey in all ages to reduce the feed cost. Also provide shell grit @ 30-40 gm / day/ bird to avoid the leg weakness. Turkey requires a fresh and clean water supply all the times.

 

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TURKEY (Home farm testing)  

 

Age in weeks

Av. Body Weight

Total feed consumption (kg)

Cumulative feed efficiency

 

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

4

0.72

0.63

0.95

0.81

1.3

1.3

8

2.36

1.90

3.99

3.49

1.8

1.7

12

4.72

3.85

11.34

9.25

2.4

2.4

16

7.26

5.53

19.86

15.69

2.8

2.7

20

9.62

6.75

28.26

23.13

3.4

2.9

 

SUGGESTED OPERATIONS AND VACCINATION PROGRAMMES :

 

Age

Vaccine

 Route

Day old

Lasota

Nasal drop/eye drop

Day old

Desnooding

By curved sharp scissors

10th day

Debeaking

By red hot iron touching

5th week

Fowl pox

Wing web prick or i/m

6th week

R 2 B

i/m or subcutaneous

10th week

Fowl cholera

i/ m - breast

11th week     

Debeaking ll

By beak trimmer

          Turkeys are completely resistant to Marek’s and Infectious bronchitis. The commonly encountered diseases in turkey are mycoplasmosis, fowl cholera, erysipelas and hemorrhagic enteritis.

 

NUTRITIONL COMPOSITION OF TURKEY MEAT AND EGG:

             Turkey meat contains24% protein, 6.6% fat, 162 calories per 100gm of meat and also rich in minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acid and low in cholesterol. Turkey egg contains13.1% protein, 11.8% lipid, 1.7% carbohydrates and 0.8% minerals. The cholesterol is 15.67 – 23.97 mg/ gm of yolk.

 

ECONOMICS ANALYSIS OF TURKEY PRODUCTION:

 

Turkey production rates at a glance

Economics of turkey farming (production of 500 turkey per month ) under deep litter system

 

Cost of construction

Rs 120/- sq.ft

Particulars

Deep litter system

Space requirement

1.25 sq.ft. /bird

Capital requirement (Rs/ bird)

 

327.60

 

Cost of day old chicks

Rs 50/- each

Net profits (Rs/ bird)

51.50

Cost of feed

Rs 10/-per kg

 

Cost of production (Rs/kg live wt.)

 

42.38

Body weight 8th week

1.748 kg

F.C.R 8th week

2.05

 

Net profits (Rs/kg live wt.)

 

 

29.50

 

Mortality

5 %

Sale price (live weight)

Rs 100 /- per kg

Manure production

6 kg / bird (app.)

Input – out ratio

1:1.70

Sale price of manure

Rs 450/-per ton.

Source: sadana’s all India poultry business directory (year book) 2003 – 04

 

AVAILABILITY OF POULTS:

                                Commercial day old poults of turkey @ Rs 50/- per poult and commercial Fertile hatching eggs of turkey @ Rs 25/-per H.egg are available on advance payment. Payments can be made through DD drawn in flavor of “Pay and Accounts Officer (AH&D)”, Mumbai-38 and should be sent to “The Director, Central Poultry Development Organization (Western Region), Aarey milk colony, Mumbai-400 065”.

 

For detail contact:

                         Director

Central Poultry Development Organization (Western Region)   Govt. of India,   Aarey milk colony,   Mumbai-400 065

TELEFAX :022- 26858515 / 841 TELEPHONE : 022 -26858572 / 515 / 841

                                    E-Mail: cpdo_mum@yahoo.com               Website: http://cpdomumbai.gov.in