Effect of Genotype and Sex on Slaughter and Carcass Characteristics in Quail

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of sex and genotype on slaughter and carcass characteristics of 4 different quail genotypes (Cyprus black, Texas white, Italian yellow, Pharaoh (wild type)). The animal material of the study consisted of a total of 40 quails, 5 females and 5 males from 4 genotypes at the age of 5 months. Quails were randomly selected from an actively mating and laying flock. Slaughtering was done individually and carcass weight, edible viscera weights and intestine lengths were measured in all quails. Testicular weight was measured in male quails and oviduct length was measured in females. After slaughter, the hot carcass was cooled for 12 hours and cold carcass weight and cold carcass ratio were calculated. In the study, live weight of female and male sex groups were 295.71 and 244.72 g, respectively (p<0.001). When genotypes were evaluated in terms of live weight, Pharaoh, Italian yellow, Cyprus black and Texas white genotypes were determined as 278.88, 249.51, 239.21 and 313.25, respectively (p<0.001). In terms of hot carcass, the yields of genotypes were 164.76, 167.41, 158.65 and 215.48, respectively (p<0.001). Carcass yield, which is an important yield characteristic, was calculated as 60.17, 67.34, 66.53 and 69.17% in the same order for genotype groups (p<0.001). When evaluated in terms of sex groups, it was calculated as 60.82% and 70.79% in female and male sex groups (p<0.001). When the groups were evaluated in terms of cold carcass ratio, 62.73% and 73.68% were determined as 62.92%, 69.38%, 69.03% and 71.48% in gender groups, respectively (p<0.001). In the study, part weights were also calculated and the yields of the genotype groups in terms of thighs were 39.59, 39.06, 37.90 and 53.07 g, respectively (p<0.001). In terms of whole wing weight, the yields of genotype groups were 12.52, 12.80, 12.73 and 16.47 g, respectively (p<0.001). When we evaluated the sex and genotype groups in terms of thigh carcass ratio and wing carcass ratio, no difference was found (p>0.05). Breast weights of genotypes were 64.40, 69.93, 64.70 and 90.14 g and boneless breast weights were 51.94, 56.31, 52.74 and 73.40, respectively (p<0.001).When we looked at the breast carcass ratios of genotypes, the averages were 37.48, 40.33, 39.31 and 40.44%, respectively (p<0.001). When we looked at the breast carcass ratios of the sex groups, it was determined as 40.63% and 38.15%, respectively (p<0.05). According to gender groups, liver weights were 8.48 and 4.44, respectively (p<0.001). The liver carcass ratios of the genotypes were 1.19%, 1.30, 1.18 and 1.00, respectively (p<0.05). When an evaluation was made in terms of gizzard weight, the genotype yields were 4.67, 4.00, 3.67 and 5.06, respectively (p<0.001). There was no difference between the sex groups in terms of heart weight, while heart carcass ratios were 1.24% and 1.10%, respectively. When evaluated in terms of gut length trait, genotype yields were 79.45, 82.40, 76.30 and 95.75 and sex groups were 91.88 and 75.08 cm, respectively (p<0.001). When the genotype groups were evaluated in terms of testis carcass ratio, it was determined as 3.57, 3.67, 3.71 and 3.72% (p<0.001).When the results of the research are considered, if a breeding for meat production is to be done, it is more appropriate to use the males of the Texas white genotype due to its advantage in both live weight, carcass yield and piece and edible internal organ weights. When we look at the characteristics of the carcass, it was seen that the breast constituted a large part of the carcass and this ratio was the lowest in the pharaoh quails.