Ovulation and oviposition patterns in quail (Cortunix Cortunix Japonica)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for 28 days in order to provide information on ovulation-oviposition intervals, and the movement of the ovum through the oviduct using quail which had been selected for aspects of growth and breast meat yield. A total of 120 quail females were sampled from the population at twelve weeks of age. The birds were placed in individual cages, and given 16 h of light per day with the light period from 04.00 to 20.00 h. It was found that the majority of eggs were laid by the quail in the afternoon between 14.00 and 17.00 h. It was also found that fifteen out of 26 females had ovulated 15-45 min after oviposition. The ova of two individuals ovulating within 15 min after lay were found in the posterior magnum, each contained a sizable amount of thick albumen.