Effects of different stocking and lighting regimes on fattening performance and sexual maturity of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The effects of different stocking densities and lighting regimes on fattening performance and sexual maturiy in Japanese quail ae determined. A total of 720 chicks were caged in three separate rooms 9 m2 in size. Twelve treatments consisting of three lighting regimes: 24 (L1). 16 (L2) and 8 (L3) hours light/day, and four stocking densities: 240 (D1), 144 (D2), 103 (D3) and 80 (D4) cm2/bird were applied. The experiment was a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of treatments. Two replicates of each treatment were used. Performance characteristics were determined at the first day of each week at almost the same time during the five-week experimental period. The time at which 50% of the birds rearched egg and sperm production was accepted as the age at sexual maturity. Avegare live weight of treatment : L1, L2 and L3 were 178.3, 174.6 and 165.5 g and average daily live weight gains were 5.8, 5.6 and 5.3 g. respectively. Average feed efficiency for L1, L2 and L3 were 3.72, 4.05 and 4.00 g, respectively. The same parameters for different stocking rates : D1, D2, D3 and D4 were 4.17, 4.01, 4.02 and 3.50 g, respectively. Age at sexual maturity in L1, L2 and L3 treatments were 27, 31 and 50 days for male qualis and 39, 39 and 62 days for female quails, respectively. Fattening performance and sexual maturity were affected by lighting regimes, but feed efficiency was not affected statistically. Effect of stocking density on feed efficiency was found to be statistically significant, but its effect on sexual maturity was not significant.