Quail Farming: Meaning and Advantages

In this article we will discuss about the meaning and advantages of quail farming.

Meaning of Quail Farming:

Quail farming means rearing of different breeds of quails under controlled and hygienic environment in order to get their eggs, meat and also litters for commercial purposes.

Though the Government of India is encouraging entrepreneurs to start quail farming, a government licence is required to sell commercial Japanese quail, considering the jungle variety of the bird as a protected species. The Ministry of Environment and Forest delegated the power to grant such licence to the department of Animal Husbandry.

Advantages of Quail Farming:

1. Quail farming requires minimum floor space (3-4 adult quails can be reared in one sq. ft).

2. Quail farming needs low investment. Quail can be bred up to commercial numbers very quickly.

3. Quail farming incurs low cost of production.

4. Low feed consumption (550-600 gm of feed/ bird up to 5^th week).

5. Quails are comparatively sturdy birds.

6. Can be marketed at an early age because of fast growth, i.e., 170-190 gm body weight by 5^th week.

7. Early sexual maturity — starts laying eggs in about six to seven weeks of age.

8. High rate of egg laying (250-300 eggs in a year / bird) and short generation interval (3-4 generations in a year).

9. Quail meat is tastier than chicken and has less fat content. It promotes body and brain deve­lopment in children.

10. Nutritionally, the quail eggs are on a par with that of chicken eggs. Moreover, they contain less cholesterol.

11. Quails are resistant to common diseases of chicken.

12. Quail can be sexed by anyone from an early age.

13. Quails have the shortest incubation time of all poultry and game birds.