Inheritance of plumage colour variations in a large flock of Japanese quail

1. The inheritance of various plumage colour variants and their underlying interactions were investigated in a large flock of Japanese quail maintained at CARI (India) by conducting reciprocal crosses between four breeding stocks inheriting Pharaoh, White Breasted, White and Brown plumages, followed by test crosses. 2. Based on the proportion of plumage-colour types in the progeny, putative genotypes were determined for parents and offspring for each of the crosses. 3. The White and Brown phenotypes were attributed to the Panda (S) and Roux (Br) loci respectively in agreement with contemporary quail stocks. 4. The White Breasted plumage type present in our stock was caused by a novel mutation with dominant gene action at an autosomal locus that was not allelic to either Panda or the White feather locus. 5. A recessive epistatic action of the Panda locus (S) on White Breasted (Wb) resulted in a White colour phenotype. 6. A novel phenotype, White Breasted-Brown was co-expressed with the Br and Wb loci. 7. It was concluded that breeding for customized feather colour phenotypes in Japanese quail using colour mutations was feasible and would be advantageous in order to overcome the limitations of legislation to protect wildlife in India.     

Production, hatchability and fertility of eggs from breeding Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed diets containing furazolidone.

1. Breeding Japanese quail were allocated to 8 groups, each group consisting of 20 females and males. The birds were fed one of 4 diets for up to 33 d: a control diet or a diet containing 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg furazolidone. Subsequently, quails were fed a furazolidone-free diet for up to 21 d. Egg production, quality, hatchability and fertility of the groups were measured. 2. Significant reduction in egg production occurred in birds fed 400 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg furazolidone, the effect being more pronounced at the higher concentration. 3. Hatchability was reduced significantly for all groups of birds fed furazolidone and this effect was both dose and time dependent. The reduction in hatchability was attributable to an increase in infertile eggs rather than an increase in embryonic mortality. 4. Egg quality was affected, with more small eggs being produced by birds fed 1000 mg/kg furazolidone. 5. After removal of the experimental diets egg production of the affected groups returned to control values. Hatchability and fertility of affected groups also returned toward control values, but had generally not attained these values 21 d after the cessation of the experimental diets. 6. It was concluded that standard recommendations for the therapeutic dosage of poultry with furazolidone may not be appropriate for breeding Japanese quail.     

The characterization of equine prealbumin (Pr) proteins by antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis.

The characterization of equine prealbumin (Pr) proteins by antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis. Acta vet. scand. 1979, 20, 180–190. — Selected equine Pr phenotypes from a total of 55 horses of mixed breeds were investigated. The horse sera were subjected to acid starch gel electrophoresis at pH 4.8, followed by right angle electrophoresis in agarose gels containing rabbit-produced anti-Pr protein. This technique gives peaks in the agarose gels corresponding to the Pr zones in acid gels.The investigation revealed patterns of the Pr protein which were more complex than those seen when using ordinary acid starch gel electrophoresis. The phenotypes FF, II and LL showed a total of eight peaks, each with three main peaks in the front. Ahead of these, the Pr II and Pr LL phenotypes each had a fourth small peak. The basic fast pattern for these two phenotypes therefore consisted of four bands. The Pr WW and Pr SS showed a similar picture as regards the fast moving peaks. The Pr NN type appeared with two peaks in the front, one small and one large and with two slow moving ones. The Pr UU type had four peaks, but only in the area of the main Pr U band in acid gels.Four heterozygous Pr phenotypes appeared as a combination of the corresponding homozygous phenotypes, the number and height of the peaks depending on positions and overlappings of these in the respective homozygotes. Thus the Pr FW phenotype showed a total of 10 peaks.The effect of variations in pH of the starch gel buffer was studied. The Pr NN and Pr FF phenotypes were run at pH 4.8, 5.0, 5.2 and 5.4. With increasing pH, the slow moving peaks weakened and moved closer to the fast ones. At pH 5.4 only one large fast moving peak remained.     

Traits influencing the hatching performance of Japanese quail eggs

1. Japanese quail eggs from moderately heavier sires showed superior fertility; while fertile eggs from moderately heavier dams hatched slightly better than the eggs from lighter dams.

2. Higher rates of fertility and hatchability of Japanese quail eggs were observed from parents of 10 to 19 weeks of age, with peak fertility and hatchability at 14 and 12 weeks of age, respectively.

3. Sex ratios of 1:2 to 1:5 gave comparable fertility and hatchability results.

4. The hatching performance of quail eggs from cage and deep litter reared breeders was comparable.

5. Fertility and hatchability were directly proportional to the egg weight.

6. Quail egg shell colour, tints and blotches were found to influence hatching performance.

7. Storing quail eggs at 16 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for more than 4 d reduced hatchability.

8. Hatchability of eggs stored at room temperature was improved if they were sealed in polyethylene bags.

9. Provision of light during the first 14 d of incubation resulted in a photo‐acceleration of about 3.2 h.     

The Effects of Dietary l-Carnitine Supplementation on Semen Traits,Reproductive Parameters,and Testicular Histology of Japanese Quail Breeders

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of supplemental dietary l-carnitine at different levels on semen traits, reproductive parameters, and testicular histology in male Japanese quail breeders. Forty-five 5-wk-old male Japanese quail breeders were fed the same basal diet that was supplemented with 0 (control), 250, or 500 mg of l-carnitine/kg of diet. There were no significant effects of dietary l-carnitine supplementation at different levels on BW, feed intake, testes weight, fertility rate, hatchability rate of set and fertile eggs, and malonaldehyde production (μg/mL of semen) of male Japanese quail breeders. However, the supplementation of dietary l-carnitine at levels of 250 or 500 mg/kg to a basal diet significantly increased sperm viability and decreased multinucleated giant cells per testes in mature male Japanese quail breeders. Additional studies are required to explore the antioxidant role that l-carnitine has in Japanese quail breeders.     

Effects of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus on the Viability and Reproductive Performance of Japanese Quail

The effects of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) infection were studied using an experimental model in Japanese quail during 2 consecutive generations. The REV used in this study (APC-566) was isolated from Attwater's prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri). Tumors were induced by APC-566 as early as 6 wk of age. Mortality was significantly higher in groups of quail with a higher frequency of REV infection. Egg production, hatchability, and fertility rates decreased in infected quail as compared with uninfected control quail. The BW of infected quail were significantly reduced at 8 wk of age in the first generation of infected quail (breeders) and at 3 and 6 wk of age in the second generation (quail broilers) compared with uninfected quail.     

Effect of fast freezing then thaw‐aging on meat quality attributes of lamb M. longissimus lumborum

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two different freezing rate then thaw‐aging regimens on the quality attributes of lamb loins. The loins were randomly allocated to one of five different freezing/thawing/aging regimes: fast‐(FF1A0) and slow‐(SF1A0) frozen only; fast‐(FF1A2) and slow‐(SF1A2) frozen then thaw‐aged for 14 days; aged for 14 days never frozen (A2). FF1A2 samples had a significantly higher water‐holding capacity compared to the slow frozen regardless of further aging periods. FF1A2 samples had lower (p < 0.05) shear force values than A2 and higher (p < 0.05) water‐holding capacity compared to the SF1A2. Fast freezing resulted in more intracellular cryo‐damage, whereas slow freezing resulted in extracellular cryo‐damage. FF1A0 and SF1A0 samples had lower (p < 0.05) myofibrillar proteins degradation. This study demonstrated that fast freezing then thaw‐aging can result in an improved water‐holding capacity and tenderness through the minimization of extracellular ice crystal formation, reduction in purge and drip losses, and improved proteolysis in thawed lamb.     

Effect of crossbreeding on fertility,hatchability and embryonic mortality of Nigerian local chickens

A total of 970 eggs were collected from matings involving three genotypes of Nigerian local chickens (Normal-feathered, Frizzle-feathered and Naked neck) and one exotic broiler breeder strain (Anak Titan) to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding on fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality. Mating was achieved through artificial insemination. Sire genotype significantly (P < 0.05) affected percent fertility and percent dead-in-shell. Naked neck sire genotype had the highest dead-in-shell (19.5%) with the least being 7.5% for Frizzle-feathered chickens. Frizzle-feathered sire genotype had the highest fertility (90.5%) and hatchability (91.4%). Dam genotype had a significant effect (P < 0.01) on fertility and hatchability, with Anak Titan dam having the highest fertility and hatchability of 88.2% and 94.6%, respectively. Fertility and hatchability were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the interactive effect of sire and dam genotypes with Frizzle-feathered × Anak Titan having 98.5% fertility and 96.8% hatchability. Both straight and reciprocal crosses involving Frizzle-feathered genotype and Anak Titan resulted in higher mean values for fertility and hatchability when compared to crosses involving the other two local chicken genotypes. This result suggests that the use of the Frizzle-feathered genotype appears to be more desirable in fertility and hatchability trials.     

Serum lysozyme (muramidase) activity in dogs with neoplastic disease

The lysozyme (muramidase) activity was measured in the sera of 84 dogs with neoplastic disease. Neoplasms included 32 lymphomas, 13 primary bone neoplasms, 5 melanomas, 5 thyroid neoplasms, 9 soft tissue sarcomas, 5 mast cell sarcomas, and 15 carcinomas. The sera from 21 healthy dogs served as control. Dogs with neoplastic disease had significantly (P less than 0.005) higher serum lysozyme activity than did the healthy controls. For lymphosarcoma, dogs with clinical signs of systemic disease had significantly higher serum lysozyme activity than did dogs without clinical signs. For bone neoplasms, dogs with metastatic disease had higher serum lysozyme activity than did dogs without metastasis. Increased lysozyme activity may be a useful marker of macrophage-mediated host responses to neoplasms in dogs.     

Effect of the callipyge gene on muscle growth, calpastatin activity, and tenderness of three muscles across the growth curve

Changes in muscle growth, calpastatin activity, and tenderness of three muscles were assessed in 20 callipyge and 20 normal wether lambs slaughtered at live weights (LW) of 7, 20, 36, 52, and 69 kg. At 24 h postmortem, the longissimus (LM), semimembranosus (SM), and supraspinatus (SS) muscles were removed and weighed and samples were obtained for calpastatin activity (CA; 24 h) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS; aged 6 d). For muscle weights and calpastatin activity, the weight group x muscle x phenotype interaction was significant (P < 0.05). Muscle weights were similar (P > 0.05) between phenotypes for all three muscles at 7 kg LW. At 20 kg LW, the LM and SM muscles from the callipyge lambs were heavier (P < 0.05) than those from normal lambs; however, the SS did not differ (P > 0.05) between phenotypes at 7, 20, or 52 kg. From 20 to 69 kg LW, the LM and SM weights were 42 and 49% heavier (P < 0.05) for callipyge than for normal lambs. Calpastatin activity of the callipyge LM was greater (P < 0.05) than that of normal LM at 36, 52, and 69 kg. In the callipyge LM, CA was similar (P > 0.05) at 20, 36, and 52 kg LW and did not differ (P > 0.05) from 7-kg or 69-kg values. Calpastatin activity declined (P < 0.05) across the growth curve for the SM and SS, but values were higher (P < 0.05) in the SM in callipyge than in normal lambs. Shear force values of the LM were lower (P < 0.05) for normal lambs at 36, 52, and 69 kg LW than for callipyge lambs. In the SM and SS, WBS values decreased (P < 0.05) across the growth curve, but values were higher (P < 0.05) for callipyge lambs in the SM only. These data indicate that the selective muscular hypertrophy of the callipyge phenotype develops during the postnatal growth period between 7 and 20 kg LW (19 and 100 d of age). Longissimus and semimembranosus muscles in the callipyge lambs were over 40% heavier from 20 to 69 kg LW; however, they also had higher levels of calpastatin activity and Warner-Bratzler shear force during this time period, indicating the need for postmortem tenderization treatments to improve palatability.     

Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 6. Hatching time,hatchability and embryo mortality

1. Hatching time, hatchability of fertile eggs and embryo mortality under standard egg storage (1 or 5 days at 12?±?1°C and 55% relative humidity) and incubation conditions (37·5?±?0·2°C and 50% relative humidity) were analysed in lines long-term selected for high (HG) and low (LG) relative weight gain between 11 and 28?d of age, respectively, and constant body weight at 49?d of age.

2. Egg storage duration did not have an effect on average hatching time. LG quail, characterised by a fast postnatal growth rate immediately after hatching, hatched earlier than HG quail with a low early growth rate (about 391 vs. 406?h after egg setting, respectively).

3. In contrast to hatching time, the hatchability of fertile eggs was influenced by line as well as egg storage duration. Extended storage decreased hatching success in both lines. However, LG eggs exhibited a higher hatchability than HG eggs (1?d storage: 96·0 vs. 82·5%; 5?d storage: 88·7 vs. 72·7%, respectively).

4. Lower hatchability resulted mostly from a higher frequency of embryo death during early (up to d 7) and late (d 14 and later) phases of incubation.

5. An inadequate nutrient supply to embryos in consequence of developmental delay seems to be a key factor decreasing viability of embryos during incubation.     

Performance of lines selected for fast‐and slow‐hatching times and crosses among them 1

1. Males of a control line and two lines selected for fast‐ and slow‐hatching were mated to females of the same three pure lines and three crosses between them. Hatchability, egg weight and hatching time were measured.

2. No significant differences were found between genetic groups in hatchability.

3. Groups containing the fast‐hatching line genotypes were significantly smaller in egg weight than those not containing this line.

4. Significant differences in hatching time existed between male lines and between female lines within pure and cross‐line parent types while no differences were observed between the female parent types and no interactions of male by female lines occurred.

5. It was concluded that inbreeding in the pure lines (10%) did not affect any of the variables measured.

6. The results on hatching time support the conclusion that little genetic variance other than additive variance is involved for this trait.     

The effects of carotenoids in quail breeder diets on egg yolk pigmentation and breeder performance

The effects of supplementation of 10?mg/kg (i) apoester, (ii) canthaxanthin, (iii) 3% clover extract, (iv) paprika oleoresin and (v) aztec marigold extract pigments to a wheat-based non-pigmented feed on hatchery performance and egg yolk pigmentation in quail breeders were investigated. At six weeks of age a total of 432 Japanese quail breeders were randomly divided into 6 treatments, each of which was replicated 3 times, with 24 birds (18 female:6 male) per replicate. Hatchability was significantly better in the apoester treatment compared to the control, canthaxanthin, clover extract and paprika oleoresin treatments (p?p?>?.05). Total carotenoids concentration, YCF score, yellowness (b*) and redness (a*) of egg yolk were significantly higher in pigment-supplemented treatments compared to the control treatment (p?a*) were highly correlated in all treatments (0.94; p?相似文献   

Effect of coccidiosis on reproductive maturation of male Japanese quail

The effects of coccidiosis on reproductive development of male Japanese quail were examined. Male Japanese quail were exposed to high (5 x 10(5) sporulated oocysts/quail) or low (5 x 10(3) sporulated oocysts/quail) doses of Eimeria uzura at 16 or 30 days of age and sampled at 37 days. Quail given high doses of coccidia had reduced testes weight and lowered circulating concentrations of androgen compared with control males. Low doses of coccidia did not affect testes weight but did result in elevated plasma androgen levels. There were no differences in average testes weights by 51 days; however, plasma androgen was still reduced in most groups. To study the effects of coccidiosis on egg production, males exposed to high doses of coccidia at 16 (16H) or 30 (30H) days of age were mated with control females, and control males were mated with control or 16H females. The onset of laying was delayed for 5 days in the control male: 16H female group. During the first week of production, eggs from females bred to 30H males had lower fertility and hatchability than those bred to control or 16H males. By the third week of production, levels of fertility were similar. Apparently, exposure of quails to coccidiosis before sexual maturation might result in long-term effects on later reproductive capability.     

Hatching eggs sanitized with chlorine dioxide foam: egg hatchability and bactericidal properties

The efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) as an alternative sanitizing agent for hatching eggs was investigated because of the health concerns about formaldehyde fumigation. Hatchability of chicken eggs was reduced when the eggs were dipped in the ClO2 solutions for more than 5 minutes or in concentrations greater than 100 ppm Cl. However, treating hatching eggs with a ClO2 foam or fumigating with formaldehyde had no adverse effect on hatchability compared with untreated control eggs. Sanitizing soiled duck eggs with ClO2 foam improved hatchability by more than 10% and hatch by more than 6% compared with untreated eggs (P less than 0.05). A novel method for assessing bactericidal potential of egg-sanitizing agents was developed. Using this technique, both chlorine dioxide foam and formaldehyde fumigation reduced the number of egg-contaminant bacteria inoculated on sterile chicken eggs compared with the number of bacteria on untreated eggs (P less than 0.05). These findings suggest that sanitizing hatching eggs with ClO2 foam may be a viable alternative to fumigating with formaldehyde.     

Influence of the Laying Date on the Fertility and Hatchability of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Eggs

In several countries, there is a well-developed market for Red-Legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs for incubation. Although Red-Legged partridge eggs produced at game farms are sold with a guaranteed average hatchability, there is a marked seasonal variation in fertility and hatchability. Therefore, an average incubating hatchability value cannot be generalized across the whole breeding season. In this research, the influence that the laying date has upon the fertility and hatchability of incubated eggs and the hatchability of the fertile eggs incubated at a farm of Red-Legged partridge was analyzed. It was found that the laying date did indeed influence the fertility and hatchability of the incubated eggs. Fertility and hatchability were greater in the eggs set in the incubator between mid February and late March than those of the eggs set in late April and early May. Hatchability of fertile eggs was greater in the eggs set in the incubator in mid March and lower in the eggs set in late April. The higher values obtained during the middle of the laying period and the lower ones obtained at the end of the laying period cause the game farms’ need to inform their potential customers of the eggs’ expected hatchability as a function of their laying date.     

Effect of in ovo injection of threonine on immunoglobulin A gene expression in the intestine of Japanese quail at hatch

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of in ovo injection of threonine (THR) on immunoglobulin A (IgA) gene expression of Japanese quail on hatch day. A total of 540 Japanese quail eggs were assigned into nine groups of 60 each and were set in a single‐stage incubator. Treatments were as follows: non‐injected (control), two diluent levels (0.05 or 0.1 ml saline), two sites of injection (in or under the air sac) and with or without nutrients (0.5 mg/ml THR). Eggs were injected on d 11 of incubation. On hatch day, after euthanizing hatched quail chicks, the intestine was removed and the jejunum was separated. The relative mRNA expression of jejunal IgA increased (p < 0.05) by the injection of 0.05 ml THR under the air sac when compared to the control group or other treatments of injection. Compared to the control group, no differences were imputable to treatments of 0.1‐ml injections on IgA gene expression. Differences with other injected groups were not significant. It was concluded that injection of 0.05 ml saline containing 0.5 mg THR/ml under the air sac can improve jejunal IgA mRNA expression in newly hatched Japanese quail chicks.     

Purinergic control of the quail rectum: modulation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate-mediated contraction with acetylcholine

Electrical field stimulation (EFS) induces frequency-dependent contractions of the longitudinal muscle of isolated quail rectum which were sensitive to tetrodotoxin. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether purinergic neurons are implicated in the response to nerve stimulation. The shape of the EFS-induced contractile response was different depending on stimulus frequency; low frequencies (0.5-2 Hz) induced fast monophasic contractions with a small subsequent relaxation; whereas higher frequencies (5-50 Hz) induced biphasic contractile response that comprised fast initial component (as in case of low frequency) and a slow delayed contractile component in addition to the relaxation that follows the fast contractile component. Prior application of atropine (10 microM) completely abolished the slow delayed component but significantly enhanced the fast initial contractile component. Physostigmine (1-10 microM) significantly enhanced the slow delayed component with an inhibitory effect on the initial fast component. The nonspecific purinergic receptor antagonist, suramin (100-500 microM) significantly inhibited the fast initial contractile component with no significant effect on the slow delayed one. Complete blockade of the fast component was achieved by prior application of a combination consisted of suramin (50 microM) and pyridoxicalphosphate-6-azophenyl 2',4'-disulphonic acid tetrasodium (PPADS; 10 microM). Exogenous applications of adenosine 5'-triphosphate and acetylcholine (10 microM each), produced contractile responses that mimicked those induced by EFS. These data suggest that ATP is the main noncholinergic excitatory transmitter controlling the contractile activity of the quail rectum; and that its action could be modulated by acetylcholine.     

Effects of herbicides (Gramoxone and Defenuron) on the development and protein levels of quail (Coturix coturix japonica)]

The herbicides Gramoxone (active substance paraquat dichloride) and Defenuron (active principle N-phenyl-N'-methylurea) were studied as influencing the development of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and the proteins in their blood serum. The aqueous solution of Gramoxone (500 ppm), applied to the egg surface, reduces the hatchability percentage and delays hatching. Under similar conditions, Defenuron has no inhibitory effect on embryonal development. Gramoxone in drinking water (100 ppm) causes 100% mortality of young quail within a week's time whereas the same amount of Defenuron does not affect the vitality of the birds. Sublethal concentrations of Gramoxone in drinking water (40 ppm) cause great quantitative changes in the proteinogram of the blood serum of the birds. The herbicide Defenuron does not influence the proteinogram even at a concentration of 100 ppm of the active substance in drinking water.     

Production of Functional Gametes from Cryopreserved Primordial Germ Cells of the Japanese Quail

The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is a valuable bird as both an experimental animal, for a wide range of scientific disciplines, and an agricultural animal, for the production of eggs and meat. Cryopreservation of PGCs would be a feasible strategy for the conservation of both male and female fertility cells in Japanese quail. However, the effects of freeze-thaw treatment on viability, migration ability and germline transmission ability of quail PGCs still remain unclear. In the present study, male and female PGCs were isolated from the blood of 2-day-old embryos, which were cooled by slow freezing and then cryopreserved at –196 C for 77–185 days, respectively. The average recovery rate of PGCs after freeze-thawing was 47.0%. The viability of PGCs in the frozen group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) (85.5% vs. 95.1%). Both fresh and Frozen-thawed PGCs that were intravascularly transplanted into recipient embryos migrated toward and were incorporated into recipient gonads, although the number of PGCs settled in the gonads was 48.5% lower in the frozen group than in the unfrozen control group (P<0.05). Genetic cross analysis revealed that one female and two male recipients produced live progeny derived from the frozen-thawed PGCs. The frequency of donor-derived offspring was slightly lower than that of unfrozen controls, but the difference was not significant (4.0 vs. 14.0%). These results revealed that freeze-thaw treatment causes a decrease in viability, migration ability and germline transmission ability of PGCs in quail.