ROLE OF JAPANESE QUAIL FARMING IN UPLIFTMENT OF LIVIHOOD FOR RURAL INDIAN YOUTHS

ROLE OF JAPANESE QUAIL FARMING IN UPLIFTMENT OF LIVIHOOD FOR RURAL INDIAN YOUTHS

SUJATHA.V

Assistant professor, Farmer Training Centre, Tiruvarur.

ABSTRACT

      Quail farming is the low investment profitable farming in the current scenario., Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japanioca) breed gained importance for their productivity and sturdiness among the quail farmers in India. Animal meat protein forms an essential nutrient supply for young growing population of India. India has the largest share of world’s livestock population. India produces around 8.8 million MT of Meat and 122 billion eggs annually. Quail generally lay more than 300 eggs per year and survive for 3 to 4 years. Presence of light increases the egg productive efficiency of quails. Quails usually lay eggs at afternoon. It takes about 18 days to hatch their eggs. A newly born quail chick weights around 6 to 7 grams. Japanese quail farming by adopting scientific feeding, housing and health management would fetch comparatively additional income with less investment. Japanese quail farming can be adopted to support the livelihood of rural communities through involving rural women and youth in farming activities.

KEY WORDS– Quail, Japanese Quail, Quail farming.

INTRODUCTION

Animal protein is essential and indispensible for the ever growing population of India to make healthy human resources. India has the world’s largest population of livestock of 10.59% of the world total livestock population. India produces around 8.8 million MT of Meat (BAHS, 2021) and 122 billion eggs annually. India is the largest producer of buffalo meat and second largest producer of goat meat. Though the growth of meat industry records around 6% annual, still there is more demand. Availability of meat in India for a person per day is only 15g as against the ICMR recommendation of 30g per day.  world per capita annual meat consumption is 43kg whereas in India only 6.45 kg is available per person annum (2019-20). Thus, Indians meat consumption is very low and it has been found growing only by 1 kg in the last 20 years. Poultry meat contribution was 50.5%, while the rest is from for other livestock meat. Poultry is a highly vertically integrated industry in India and matches the efficiency levels of many western countries. Government of India has taken steps for modernization of municipal abattoirs to provide safe and hygienic meat to consumers. Export oriented units have invested significantly in establishment of large abattoirs cum meat processing plants with the latest technology. Farm automation, abattoirs, logistics, processing and point of sale cold storage infrastructure are an opportunity in India, given the changing preference of Indian consumers for clean, safe and hygienic meat and meat products. The largest producer of meat in the country is Uttar Pradesh producing 13.56% of the total meat followed by Maharashtra 13.26% to the meat production.

Quails are very much suitable for commercial production for both meat and eggs. Commercial quail farming business is more profitable than any other poultry business with low investment. Quails can adopt themselves in wide range of climatic conditions with variable Temperature-Humidity index and most suitable for warm environments. Indian climate is very much suitable for raising Japanese quails commercially.

Japanese quail farming advantages

Initial investment required is comparatively very low. Since, mother stock price or the infra-structure /housing facilitates required are very low It requires floor space of only 0.2 square feet per bird. Hence, in one square feet is sufficient for rearing 6 quails where only one desi -fowl or one white leghorn laying hen can be reared. Quails reach their marketing age earlier. They can reach their marketing weight within 4 to 5 weeks of age. They also gain sexual maturity earlier. Layer quails start laying eggs from seven weeks of age and can lay about 280 eggs per year. Quail meat is very much tastier and lower in fat content than chicken/other poultry meats. Feeding costs very much less in quails as they consume only 500gm for attaining their marketing weight. Feed Conversion ratio of quails are also found to be much efficient the other meat production livestock’s. Quails were found to be comparatively sturdy than any other poultry birds. They require minimum vaccines and other managemental practices. Hence, Commercial quail farming business can be a alternate source of income and employment for the unemployed rural youths and women in low investments.

Quail Life Cycle

Quail hens mature at the age of six week, and gain weight  upto175-200 grams and the males weight upto125-150 grams. Female birds start laying eggs at 7 weeks of age and continue up to twenty two weeks. Usually Eggs laying happens in the evening time of the day and weighs about 9-10 gram. Quail generally survive for 3 to 4 years. They lay more than 300 eggs per year. Presence of light for 20 hours per day increases the egg production efficiency in quail hens. They usually lay eggs at afternoon around 3.00 pm. It takes about 18 days for the quail egg to hatch their eggs in incubators. A newly born quail chick weights around 6 to 7 grams and priced for Rs.7-8/-. Quails never incubate their eggs, hence a separate incubator is a must for continous chick production.  For breeding purpose alone keep male quails in the male : female ratio of 1: 2/3. Quail chicks are very much sensitive and take about two weeks to be strong enough to get out of brooding. Quails chicks of 1500 can be produced from 500 laying quail hens. Hence they are prolific breeder and layers too.

Nutritional wise quail meat has much less cholesterol or fat content with very high good quality protein and one quail can be sold @ Rs. 35 to Rs.45/- in the markets. Giving an profit of Rs.7-10/- per quail reared. For egg production 30 gm feed costs only Rs.1.00 /- but these were sold for Rs.3.00 or Rs.4.00 in the markets.

     Housing Management of quails

1. In Deep litter system five quails can be reared in one sq feet of floor space after two weeks, quails can be reared in cages. This will help to gain good body weight easily. Proper Brooding is necessary with round the clock heat and light for the growth.
2. In Battery system of rearing – Each unit of quail cage is about 6 feet in length and one feet in width and can be subdivided in to six subunits. For saving the space, the cages can be arranged up to six tiers in height. There should be 4 to 5 cages in a row. The bottom of the cage is fixed with removable wooden plates to clean the bird droppings. Long narrow feed troughs are placed in front of the cages. Water troughs are placed at the back of the cages. Commercial egg layers are usually housed in colonies of 10-12 birds per cage. For breeding purposes, male quails are introduced in the cages in the ratio of 1 to 3 females.

Feeding Management in quail farm

Quail consume feed for round the clock, Hence feed must be kept 24 hours a day. They grow must faster hence they need highly proteinous feed. They are small and have simple digestive system, so their feed materials should be made of small particles. In five weeks quails consumes around 500 gram feed. At the age of six week each quail consumes around 30-35 gram of feed per day. It require about 400 grams feed for the production of one dozen of eggs.  Broiler starter mash can be used as alternate by adding 5 kg of oil cakes to 75 gram feed. The particle should be finely grounded.

Nutrient Requirement of Japanese Quail

Commercial Ration for Japanese Quail

Diseases of Quail

Incidence of diseases is very less in among quails compared to other poultry species. Litter and hygienic management of shed with strict bio-security measures can prevent the incidence of diseases.

Ulcerative Colitis – Ulcerative Enteritis characterised by ulcers of the intestines and caecae, is an acute, highly contagious disease of quail as well as chickens caused by bacterium Clostridium colinum.  Thus, this disease is easily transmitted from other poultry species in integrated system. Disease starts suddenly and causes very high mortality upto 100% in quail (death of all birds) and 10% in chickens. Route of infection is by oral and transmission is from faeces of sick or carrier birds or via flies. This bacterium also resists boiling for 3 minutes. Predisposing factors includes Coccidiosis (especially E. necatrix, E. tenella, and E. brunetti), IBDV and overcrowding. Signs and symptoms includes listlessness, partially closed eyes, retracted neck, drooping wings, ruffled feathers, diarrhoea, anaemia and watery white faeces. Confirmation is on absence of other diseases and isolation of Cl. colinum in anaerobic conditions (the agent is often present in pure culture in liver). Differential diagnosis has to be made from coccidiosis, histomonosis (‘Blackhead’), necrotic enteritis, salmonellosis and  trichomoniasis.

In poor managmental conditions other diseases like Pullorum disease, Cholera, E.coli infection, ranikhet disease, Pox, Ecto and endo parasites infestations and nutritional deficiency diseases can occur in Japanese quails.

Prevention and Control of diseases

Hygienic management of quail farm surrounding or cage is very much essential. Quality water supply has to be ensured. If incidence of disease occurs, diseased quails have to be disposed safely preferably by incineration. Disinfectant has to be sprayed throughout the farm premises. Labour working from the infected shed should not be allowed into the healthy quails shed. Vitamin E and Vitamin C should be included in the ration. Proper disposal of litter should be carried out. Control of rodents should be ensured.

Conclusion

Adopting scientific feeding, housing and health management practises in Japanese quail farming can fetch comparatively additional income on low investment. Quails are less susceptible to various diseases, requires very less labour and infrastructure. With increasing market demand for quail meat and egg can surely serve as a livelihood upliftment sector for rural youths of India.

Please follow and like us: