Effect of group size, age and strain on the behaviour of Japanese quail

Fifty six quail hens from two strains [28 from each] were included in this study. Birds of each strain were divided into 4 groups in density of 2, 3, 4, and 5 birds/cage in two replicates for each group. Birds were observed for period from 6 to 12 weeks of age for changes in behavioral traits due to population size, age and strain effects. There was a significant difference in drinking, moving, preening and ruffling frequencies due to group size effect. However, larger sized groups perform higher percentage of rest, lower percentage and frequency of st and ing, higher frequencies of moving, preening, ruffling, head shaking and more wing and leg stretch and fewer aggressive pecking and gained more weight than the small sized groups. Positive correlation between body weight and group size was also observed. Moreover, feeding, drinking, moving and st and ing behavior were highly significantly [P <0.01] affected with age. On the other h and, except st and ing and aggressive pecking, none of the behavioral pattern was significantly affected by the strain of quail. The percentage and frequency of aggression was significantly higher in brown than white quails. Moreover, brown quails gained significantly more weight than white ones

Reproductive behaviour, fertility, hatchability and body size in two strains of Japanese quail

The combined effects of group size, mating ratio, age and mating system on the behavioral, productive and reproductive traits of Japanese quail during maturity stage were studied. Results showed that, crowing showed a highest frequency in brown male, white female groups. Moreover, the highest aggression frequency was in brown male and female groups. On the other h and, the oviposition was found to be high in the white male, brown female groups, also body weight has the same trend. On contrary, fertility and hatchability took another trend with highest percentage for brown male and female groups. The highest body weight was for 5 birds/cage, while, the highest egg production was for 2 birds/cage. The male crowing frequency was decreased with age from the 3rd month to the 8th month. On the other h and, oviposition, body weight and egg production were gradually increased with age. However, fertility was decreased with advanced age. On the other h and, the number of complete mating, the number of incomplete mating and crowing were high during early morning, whereas low crowing was during late afternoon. Oviposition was significantly [P <0.01] affected by periods of day with the highest mean during late afternoon and lowest during early morning

Behaviour of two breeds of weaned rabbits under different stocking methods

Fourteen weaned rabbits, 7 Californian and 7 New Zeal and White [4 females and 3 males for each] were divided into 4 groups: Group A, [one Californian male stocked with New Zeal and White male, in two replicates]; group B [one Californian female with New Zeal and White female, in two replicates]; group C [Californian male stocked with both Californian and New Zeal and White females]; group D [New Zeal and White male stocked with both Californian and New Zeal and White females]. The obtained results revealed that there was a highly significant [P <0.01] effect to the periods of day on all diurnal behavioral activities, except grooming was not significantly differed. On the other h and, the effect of stocking system, breed and sex were all nonsignificant. However, group B showed higher feeding, moving, exploration and lying, but less grooming and aggressive encounters. Moreover, group D showed increased feeding, drinking, moving and exploration, but less grooming, aggression and lying than group C. With regard to the breed, the New Zeal and White rabbits were found to have higher feeding, moving, exploration, grooming and lying but less aggression than Californian rabbits. Similar trend was observed in females. Moreover, the early morning period characterized by highest feeding, drinking, moving, exploration and aggression, but grooming was highest during late morning and lying was during early afternoon period

Studies on Egyptian buffaloes: I-body measurements as related to some economic traits

Data of different body measurements and some economic traits were obtained from 112 buffaloe cows belonging to Al-Aml governmental farm [Adaah] in Beheira Governorate. It was observed that body measurements and skin thickness were highly significantly [P

Studies of Egyptian buffaloes: II-udder and teat measurements and their relation with milk production

A total of 112 individual observations were obtained from buffalo cows of different ages belonging to Al-Aml Governorate farms [Adaah] in Beheira Governorate. Age at first calving had a highly significant effect [P