The Effect of Space Allowance During Pre-Slaughter Transport of European Quail Breeders on Welfare, Carcass Traits and Meat Quality

The objective was to evaluate whether space allowance during pre-slaughter transport of European breeding quail affects welfare, carcass traits and meat quality. A total of 248 quails (body weight = 344.90 ± 2.09 g) were used. During pre-transport, the quails were fasted for 5 hours and 30 minutes. The poultry were caught and placed in plastic transport crates with an area of 0.40 m2. The treatments consisted of a different space allowance in each crate: 22, 28, 34 or 40 quails per crate. Immediately upon arrival at the slaughterhouse, the quails were stunned. During bleeding, blood samples were collected. The carcasses were individually weighed. The meat quality was measured. Data were analysed using the effects of space allowance during transport of quails and pickup truck as dependent variables. Death on arrival increased as the space allowance in transport crates decreased (p=0.08). Glucose and uric acid levels were not significantly different between groups (p≥0.14). The cold carcass weight presented the maximum value when the crates contained 31 quails (p=0.03). The meat pH, intensity of red, intensity of yellow and cooking losses were not different between groups (p≥0.12). The meat lightness value presented the maximum value when the crates contained 31 quails (p=0.04). In view of the above, the number of European breeding quails transported in crates must not exceed 30 animals.(AU)

Impact of Pre-transport Feed Withdrawal on Welfare and Meat Characteristics of European Quails

The objective of this study was evaluate whether pretransport feed withdrawal affects welfare, carcass, and meat characteristics of European quails. A total of 120 European quails were used, with an initial age of 15 days. Bird feed was removed before transport to the slaughterhouse at the following times, which characterised the different treatments: zero hours, three hours, six hours, nine hours and twelve hours. The transport took 54 minutes to cover 27 kilometres to a commercial slaughterhouse. The birds were slaughtered at 41 days of age. During bleeding, blood samples were collected. Blood glucose, total protein, albumin, uric acid, and corticosterone concentrations were measured. The carcasses and meat characteristics were measured. Poultry body weight decreased and blood glucose concentrations increased with the increase in feed withdrawal time. The treatments did not affect carcass weights. Carcass yields after three hours fasting were similar to those in the six hours and nine hours groups, indicating that gastrointestinal tracts were empty after the third hour. Meat quality was negatively affected (pH, lightness, water holding capacity, cooking loss) by the increase in feed withdrawal time; integrated parameters that characterise dark, firm, dry meat. Pre transport feed withdrawal time should be three hours to empty the gastrointestinal tract and minimise losses in meat quality of European quails. It is necessary to adjust feed withdrawal so that it does not exceed this time, since there is no technical justification for supporting it.(AU)

Possibilities of Using Chia Oil As an Omega-3 Source in Laying Quail Diets Chia Oil Supplementation on Quails

This study aims to investigate the effects of different levels of chia (Salvia Hispanica L.) seed oil supplementation as omega-3 source to the diets of laying quails on yield performance, egg quality, and egg yolk fatty acid profiles. The study was conducted including 4 treatment groups as follows: C0 (0 g/kg diet), C1 (1 g/kg diet), C2 (2 g/kg diet), and C3 (3 g/kg diet). In the study, 96 female quails at the age of 18 weeks were used and the trial was carried out for 4 weeks. As a result, it was determined that chia seed oil supplementation to the diet was not effective on feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg yield, or egg weight of quails, but it was effective on the yolk index of egg quality characteristics (p<0.05). The most important effect of chia seed oil supplementation to the diet was determined to be on the omega-3/omega-6 ratio of egg yolk. Dietary chia seed oil increased the omega-3/omega-6 ratio (p<0.01). It can be stated that increasing the level of omega-3 in the diets, positively affects the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio.(AU)