Effect of male to female ratio and vitamin-E selenium on fertility, hatchability and hatched chick weight of quail breeders

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mating ratio (male: female) and vitamin E -Selenium supplementation on fertility, hatchability and hatched chick weight of quail breeders. Total 720 Japanese quails of ten weeks of age with an average of 50% egg production were divided into four groups A, B, C and D having male: female mating ratio of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 respectively. All the four groups were further sub-divided in to vitamin E -Selenium supplemented (at the rate of 1ml/6 liters of drinking water) and control sub-groups. Each sub-group was further replicated three times with 30 quails/replicate. Mating ratio and vitamin E -Selenium supplementation had significant (P less than 0.05) effect on fertility and hatchability. The highest fertility (79 %) and hatchability (78 %) were observed in 1:1 group A, while the lowest fertility (70 %) and hatchability (62 %) were observed in 1:4 group D. Fertility and hatchability with the supplementation of vitamin E -Selenium, the highest fertility (88 %) and hatchability (81 %) were recorded for 1:1 group A, while the least fertility (75 %) and hatchability (64 %) for the 1:4 group D was recorded. Hatched chick weight was significantly (P less than 0.05) affected by mating ratio while vitamin E-Selenium supplementation had no significant (P less than 0.05) effect on hatched chick weight. The highest hatched chick weight was (8.16 g) for 1:3 group C while least (7.41g) was for 1:2 group B. It was concluded that 1:1 mating ratio alone and in combination with vitamin E-Selenium supplementation has highest fertility (79%) and hatchability (78%) in Japanese quails. While hatched chick weight was the highest in 1:3 mating group.