RESUMO
The effect of storage period on hatching and post-hatching performance of two quail breeds (brown Japanese quail (BJQ) and French white quail (FWQ)) was investigated using 940 eggs from each breed. Eggs were divided into four equal groups (235 eggs each), in each group. A total number of 210 eggs were used for incubation (with three replicates, 70 eggs each) and additional 25 eggs served as samples for egg quality parameters, each group was kept for special storage period. The first group was incubated on the same day of collection (zero day storage). Whereas the second, third, and fourth groups were stored for 4, 7, and 10 d, respectively. Increasing the storage period more than 4 d significantly decreased the relative albumen weight, yolk index, total hatchability, and fertile eggs but significantly increased the relative yolk/albumen ratio, absolute and relative egg weight loss. Moreover, FWQ eggs exhibited higher (P < 0.05) hatchability compared to BJQ eggs after 10 d of storage and yielded heavier chicks (P < 0.05) after all storage periods. The economic analysis indicated that the storage costs for FWQ eggs were significantly greater than those of BJQ at a 0 d of storage (2.42 vs. 4.81 US cent (¢); P < 0.05). Furthermore, the total costs for BJQ eggs were significantly lower than the total costs for FWQ eggs (3.0 vs. 7.0 ¢; P < 0.05). With respect to profitability, the total return represented by selling the chicks was calculated at 5.43 ¢ for BJQ and 9.01 ¢ for FWQ. The net return estimated for FWQ was significantly greater than that of BJQ (3.0 vs. 2.0 ¢; P < 0.05). However, the hatchability loss for FWQ was significantly greater than that of BJQ over different storage periods.