Performance of growing Japanese quails in cages, on slatted floor and on littered floor

Abstract

The effects of housing systems (cage, slatted floor and littered floor) on growth performance and carcass characteristics were studied in a 35-days trial using 99 unsexed one-week-old Japanese quail chicks. The weight of birds reared in cages was not significantly different compared to their counterparts reared on slatted floor or littered floor from 28-days onwards. Feed conversion and liveability were almost similar in different treatment groups. However, there were consistent tendencies in caged birds to show superiority in weight gain, feed consumption and feed utilization. Systems of housing had no effect on dressing yield and yield contributing characters.