Influence of Sixth-Week Body Weight on Egg Production and Quality during Early Lay Period in Japanese Quail

This study investigated the effects of body weight at the 6^th week (point of lay) and lay-period on quail egg production and quality during the early laying phase in Ikole, Nigeria. The objective was to assess whether these factors, either independently or interactively, influence egg productivity and quality traits. A total of 180 quail birds, all at six weeks of age, were randomly assigned to three body weight groups (123-130 g, 131-137 g, and 138-144 g), with each group consisting of six replicates of ten birds. Birds were fed a common diet from the 6^th to the 15^th week. Data on body weight, feed intake, egg production, and internal and external egg quality traits were collected following standard procedures. A two-way ANOVA based on a factorial design was used to analyze the interaction between body weight (Factor 1) and lay-period (Factor 2), with the General Linear Model (GLM) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) applied for mean separation. Results showed significant (p = 0.036-0.050) effects of the interaction between body weight and lay-period on average body weight, egg height, egg surface area, albumen quality index, yolk quality index, and Haugh unit. The findings suggest that optimizing body weight and lay-period factors can enhance quail performance and egg quality, providing farmers with practical insights for improving resource allocation and profitability.