Carcass characteristics and carcass composition in lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), unselected and selected for four-week body weight.

摘要

Ten chicks of each sex from a line selected for high 4-week body weight (line S) and an unselected control line (line C) were weighed and slaughtered at 5 weeks of age. Slaughter and carcass weights, and weights of breast and thigh were greater forline S (124.78±2.97, 83.83±2.16, 33.02±0.99 and 23.66±0.70 g respectively) than for line C (111.40±2.89, 76.29±2.11, 29.14±0.96 and 20.63±0.68 g). Line had no significant effect on dressing percentage, percentages of breast and thigh, and dry matter, crude protein, lipid and ash as g/kg carcass weight. Sex had significant effects on slaughter and breast weights, but not on other weights. There were significant sex differences in chemical composition traits except ash content.