Carcass characteristics and carcass composition in lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), unselected and selected for four-week body weight

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of line and sex on carcass characteristics and carcass composition in Japanese quail. At 6 week, chicks of both sexes were weighed and slaughtered. The weights of carcass and yields, breast and thigh were obtained which were greater for S-line than those for C-line. Dry matter, crude protein, lipid and ash of carcass were determined. Line had no significant effect on carcass percentage, breast and thigh per cent yields and carcass composition parameters. Sex had significant effect on slaughter and breast weights while not on other weights and percentage of carcass and yields. There were significant differences between sexes in carcass composition traits except ash content.