Asian Science
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Abstract: One hundred and eight, 3 weeks old female quails were
distributed among 3 treatments to study the effect of estradiol administration,
on their productive and reproductive performance. Birds of the first group
were intramuscularly injected at 3 weeks of age daily with 100 μg
E2/bird/day for 7 consecutive days. Birds of the second group
were treated in a like manner starting from 5 weeks of age and the third
group served as control. Birds injected with E2 either at 3
or 5 weeks of age had a significantly higher body weight at sexual maturity
and females injected at 3 weeks of age matured significantly earlier compared
to control. Egg number egg weight and egg mass had significantly increased
due to E2 injection at both ages with females injected at 3
weeks of age having the highest values. Estrogen-progesterone ratio fluctuated
with reverse relation to egg production. Tibia relative weight, length
and calcium content were significantly increased by estrogen injection
with birds injected at 5 weeks of age having the highest values. It can
be concluded that treating immature Japanese quails with E2
can enhance their reproductive and productive functions and that applying
the treatment earlier (3 weeks of age) has better results when compared
to applying it at 5 weeks of age regarding egg production, feed conversion
and calcium metabolism.