The effects of thermal manipulations during early and late embryogenesis on body temperatures of Japanese quails (Coturnix Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thermal manipulations during early embryogenesis (EE) and late embryogenesis (LE) on body temperature of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Incubation conditions from day 0 to day 17 were 37.7°C and 55% relative humidity for control group. In the thermally treated eggs during EE (EE 6, EE 7 and EE 8 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00-15:00) on the sixth, seventh and eighth days ofincubation. Also, in the LE stage (EL 12, EL 13 and EL 14 days), incubation temperature was increased to 41°C and relative humidity to 65% for 3 hours (12:00-15:00) on the 12th, 13th and 14th days ofincubation. Average temperature, relative humidity and total heat ofindoor air were changed from 28.71 to 30.44°C, from 45.69 to 57.15% and from 14.67 to 16.16 kcal kg dry air, respectively. Higher total heat ofindoor air in 10-11 weeks than that ofother weeks was found. Significant differences between the control (41.52± 0.26°C) and manipulation groups were found, but no significant difference between the EE (41.23 ± 0.40°C) and LE (41.26± 0.37°C) groups with respect to body temperatures. Body temperatures ofquails were measured as 41.55 ± 0.31°C, 41.56 ± 0.26°C; 41.17 ± 0.33°C and 41.07 ± 0.30°C at 10, 11, 12 and 13 weeks of age, respectively. In addition, differences among the weeks in point of body temperatures of quails were found to be significant (p <0.01). © 2012 Taylor & Francis.