Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) has been domesticated since the twelfth century AD in Japan, mostly for its singing ability. Commercial production of this species first started in Japan and was successfully introduced to America, Europe and the Middle East during 1930-1950 (Vinothraj et al 2019). In India, quail keeping started in 1974 at Izatnagar, when Central Avian Research Institute introduced germplasm of domesticated quail varieties from Japan and then improved in 1983 at Tamil Nadu (Kandangal and Bashir 2019).

Japanese quail farming is one of the emerging poultry farming systems in India which is commercially exploited for meat and egg production (Pandian et al 2017). Japanese quails are hardy birds and are able to thrive in adverse climatic conditions. Advantages of quail farming include less space requirement, short generation interval, high rate of egg production, hardiness of birds and disease tolerance (Karthika and Chandirasekaran 2016).

Tamil Nadu is one of the leading states in commercial quail production in India (Vinothraj et al 2019). Commercial quail farming is gaining popularity very fast in Tamil Nadu because of its acclimatization to varied climatic conditions, higher proliferation, shorter generation interval, quicker sexual maturity, faster growth rate, simple rearing procedures, lesser space requirement, relatively better disease resistance and quicker return on investment as compared to broilers/layers (Selvarasu 2022). Japanese quail farming is bestowed with farming-friendly factors such as reduced space and feed requirements, early maturity, fairly high egg production rate, high disease resistance and low financial investment (Vinothraj et al 2019).

Rural backyard poultry production plays a vital role in the rapidly growing economy. It provides livelihood security to the family in addition to securing the availability of food. Unemployed youth and women can also earn an income through poultry farming (Padhi 2016). Among poultry, it is Japanese quail which gives income to the farmers on monthly basis. Japanese quails are reared only for 4 to 5 weeks after which they are ready for marketing. Maintenance of Japanese quails is easier than any other livestock rearing. Their mortality rate is also comparatively less (Muthukumar et al 2020).

TANUVAS Namakkal gold quail is a Japanese quail strain evolved by five-way crossing by the Department of Poultry Science, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal under Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu (Selvarasu 2022).

The present study was aimed to evaluate the production performance of TANUVAS Namakkal gold quail in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu.

The present investigations were carried out by the ICAR – TNAU Krishi Vigyan Kendra, TNAU, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu to study the production performance of TANUVAS Namakal Gold quail in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu. For the study, ten farm women were selected randomly in five different villages of Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu. The selected farm women were trained in all scientific quail rearing techniques like brooding, feeding, watering etc.

A total of 750 number of day-old Japanese quail chicks of Namakkal gold quail chicks were procured from poultry farm complex of Department of Poultry Science, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu and distributed among 10 farm women, each with 75 quails. On arrival, before distributing among the farm women, all chicks were provided electrolytes and vitamin supplements in clean drinking water.

The brooding was carried out for a period of 14 days (2 weeks) using electric bulbs as source of heat. The quail chicks were brooded at a temperature of 95°F and adequate watering and feeding space was provided. Light was provided for 24 hours during brooding to avoid pilling and death. The temperature was reduced gradually as brooding progressed. Standard management and healthcare practices were followed throughout the experimental period. Ad lib drinking water, quail starter and grower ration were provided to the chicks of 0-3 and 4-5 weeks of age. The demonstrations were regularly monitored and periodically observed. The data on body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly interval and mortality was recorded at occurrence. From this data, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and livability were calculated. The data collected on body weight, weekly feed consumption and livability up to fifth week were subjected to statistical analysis as per the methods suggested by Snedecor and Cochran (1989).

Namakkal gold quail has been performing well in the Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu and the same can be promoted widely as a new entrepreneurial farming activity among the rural youths. The female and male Namakkal gold quail livalibilty up to five weeks of age was 95 per cent. Quails are highly resistant to diseases and there is no need for their vaccination. Proper management and balanced feeding reduce their mortality. Commercial quail farming can be helpful in providing self-employment and additional income to the rural households in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu.

References