Indian Journal of Poultry Science
Year : 2000, Volume : 35, Issue : 1
First page : ( 28) Last page : ( 31)
Print ISSN : 0019-5529.

Hatchability, embryonic mortality and hatching time of Japanese quails as affected by strain and holding position

Brah G.S., Chaudhary M.L., Sandhu J.S.

Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141 004.

Received:  17  April,  1996; Accepted:  3  January,  2000.

Abstract

Hatchability, embryonic mortality and hatching time of two strain$ (PQ 1 and PQ 2) of quails stored either in narrow-end-up (NEU) or broad-end-up (BEU) position were studied. Eggs stored in broad-end-up position had significantly higher hatchability than those held in narrow-end-up pollition in both the strains. The higher hatchability was mainly due to lower early-mortality. Strain PQ 2 (layer-type) had significantly higher hatchability than the broiler-type strain (PQ 1). Hatching time was characterized by non-normality of distribution in the form of positive skewness and positive kurtosis. However, the pattern of hatching as reflected in the cumulative percentage of chicks hatched during different periods and mean hatching time were not affected by strain and holding position.

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Key words

Hatchability, embryonic mortality, Japanese quails.

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