Wild quail meat is considered delicious due to its incomparable taste, health benefits, juiciness and softness. The demand for quail meat has led many farmers to develop a business for breeding quail meat breeds. The features of meat breeds of domestic quail and their types will be discussed later.
Features of meat quail breeds
Initially, quails were domesticated to produce eggs that are healthier than chicken. Having tasted the meat of these birds, people came to the idea of raising quail to get it. But there are fewer meat breeds at this time than egg breeds.
Quail - small birds. To get enough meat they need to be fattened. Therefore, fattening is the main condition for breeding meat-breeding birds. With its observance, it is necessary to draw up a diet so that the quail receives vitamins and minerals with food, so that greens are present. All this will not only allow the birds to gain weight, but also prevent the emergence of diseases.
One of the characteristics of meat quails is that the meat obtained from them is dietary. It’s difficult for a person to gain excess weight from him. In addition, meat helps to strengthen the immune system and alleviates the condition in some diseases.
Also, the features of meat breeds include the following:
- The weight of the carcass is significantly greater than that of ordinary wild species of birds. Some breeds reach a mass of 300-400 grams.
- Weight gain is much more intense. This factor depends on the regularity and quality of feeding.
- Meat breeds require frequent feeding in large quantities.
- These types of quail are characterized by low egg laying. This causes the difficulty in obtaining offspring.
In all other respects, meat quails are no different from other species of these birds.
Types of meat breeds of quail and their characteristics
Breeding of meat quails led to the appearance of a variety of their species. They differ among themselves in some factors, therefore, before starting breeding, it is necessary to determine the choice of a particular breed.
Meat types of quail are as follows:
- Texas white
- Pharaoh
- Virginia
- Manchurian
- California
Texas White (Albino)
One breed that is frequently bred is the Texas White Quail. The name of the species is associated with its place of origin - Texas, USA.
A distinctive feature of such quails, which speaks of their purebred nature, is the white color of the plumage without interspersed with other colors. The exception is black dots on the white nape.
If we talk about the appearance of the Texas albino, then it is endowed with the following distinctive features:
- dense physique with a broad back and chest protruding forward;
- the body is oblong with a short neck and a small oval head;
- eyes are black beads;
- the beak is proportional to the size of the head, its color is even pale pink or with a dark spot on the tip;
- the color of the feathers is exclusively white, but there may be several black dots on the back of the head;
- Texas white quail legs are well developed for running, the lower part of which is pink;
- norov calm.
In addition to external data, the meat breed of birds has good productivity. It is displayed in the following numbers:
- weight: males - 350 grams, females - 450 grams, the highest possible rate - 550 grams;
- the amount of meat at the exit: from females - up to 350 grams, from males - up to 250 grams;
- maturation of reproductive function - 60 days;
- the number of eggs laid per year - 200 pieces;
- the weight of 1 egg is 12 grams, but a figure of 20 grams is also possible;
- survival of chicks - 80%.
Pharaoh
The Egyptian name for this quail meat breed does not at all reflect the origin of this species. It was introduced to the United States in the 60s of the last century. The American author-breeder A. Marsh became the “author” of this quail breed. The scientist has achieved that by reducing egg production, he increased by 40% the meat profit of poultry.
To distinguish Pharaoh from other representatives of quail can be according to external data:
- The first is the color, although here it is not much different from the color of other wild birds. The plumage has a mottled gray-brown color with many intersperses of white, black and gray.
- The head is small, oval in shape.
- The eyes are round, small in size black with a dark gray edging.
- The beak is proportional to the size of the head, painted in dark gray or black. Pink beak is a rarity, although it is found in this species of bird.
- Legs are strong, gray-pink.
- The carcass weight of males and females differ from each other: in the first, it reaches 200-250 grams, in the second - 300-350 grams.
Egg laying is low, when compared with egg breeds: only 200-250 pieces per year.
Many entrepreneurs choose the Pharaoh breed for breeding, because it has the following qualities:
- good meat gain with 1 carcass;
- huge benefits for the human body: the supply of all necessary vitamins and minerals;
- the number of eggs, albeit small, but they differ in large sizes (compared with standard parameters) and great benefits;
- offspring have high survival and rapid puberty;
- high fecundity.
The presence of disadvantages does not affect the popularity of this breed. The cons include:
- high content requirements;
- low egg laying (although this is not so significant for meat breeds);
- a similar color to the color of wild birds reduces the value of domesticated representatives of farmers-buyers.
Virgin quail
Virgin breed, unlike its meat counterparts, can not be called common. Some European farmers breed them as decorative inhabitants. Nevertheless, there is interest in the breed as a source of meat, because from 1 individual they get 200-300 grams of pure product.
The appearance of the Virgin breed can not be called special:
- body dimensions are small, rounded;
- plumage color is brown with many dark and light spots;
- black and white stripes go from the forehead to the neck;
- beak of dark gray or gray colors with a notched border;
- tail length - 5-7 cm.
Representatives of this breed are unpretentious to the maintenance. They do not require spacious cages or special types of feed. But they prefer to dwell in pairs.
Manchurian quail
Manchurian quail belongs to the group of the most popular meat breeds of these birds. It was bred in the northeast of China, and the ancestors were ordinary wild birds. The original function of the Manchu breed was the egg-laying machine. It remains relevant to this day, but these quails are bred for meat.
Only the trained eye of a professional can distinguish the Manchurian breed without difficulty, since the external data of the quail is very similar to the Japanese or Pharaoh. Nevertheless, it is possible to determine the described quail breed by the following signs:
- Variegated color of red or light brown, walnut flowers. Females have more colorful mottles than males.
- Miniature rounded body.
- Small head on a short neck. The plumage on the head is darker than on the body.
- Eyes - small black beads.
- The beak is also small, its color is gray-brown.
- The legs are thin but strong. They have a gray-pink color.
- Character is characterized by impulsivity, moodiness and timidity.
The numerical indicators of the breed from Manchuria are as follows:
- the weight of the female is 300-350 grams, the male is 250 grams;
- the amount of meat obtained from 1 carcass of a female is 200 grams, of a male is 150 grams;
- up to 200-220 eggs are laid per year of quail; the weight of one varies between 13-16 grams.
A distinctive feature of the breed, as well as its advantage, is its unpretentiousness in food. Birds quickly gain weight both on special feed and on homemade food.
California quail
California quail is more common in North America. They are bred for meat, and as decorative pets. The last factor is possible due to the beautiful plumage. That is why California quail is considered the most beautiful meat breed.
The beauty of birds in plumage: it has an iridescent color of brown or gray. Overflow descends from the head to the calf. On the sides, mainly on the wings, are light stripes. There are colored blots on the chest. At the top of the head there is a crest, consisting of 3-4 feathers. Females are not only larger in mass, but also brighter in plumage.
From one carcass of California quail get 200-300 grams of pure healthy meat.
In the conditions of breeding of such quail, there should be spacious cages, because in cramped birds they wither away, gain weight poorly and carry many empty eggs.
What meat breeds of quail are bred in Russia?
Breeding quails in Russia is a relatively young business, but is actively gaining momentum. Several large-scale quail farms have already been built on the territory of the country, on which birds are raised not only for domestic consumption, but also for export.
The most popular meat breeds in Russia include:
- Pharaoh
- Texas albino
- Manchurian
In small quantities, California quail is also being bred, but already for decorative purposes.
The listed meat breeds of birds are very well adapted to the conditions of the changing Russian climate, although they are bred in closed nurseries.
Conditions for keeping and breeding quails for meat
To breed quails for meat purposes, it is necessary to provide them with everything necessary: a habitat and food.
Habitat
Must meet the following conditions:
- birds should be kept in cages;
- to quail was not crowded, it is necessary to observe the rule - 20 square meters per bird. see cells;
- cell size 90 × 40 × 20 cm;
- in front of the cage there should be cells into which birds can easily stick their heads in;
- outside the cages, under the cells there are feeders and drinking bowls so that the birds feed without leaving their home;
- at the bottom of the cells should be trays for eggs and for organic waste;
- the temperature at the place of detention varies from +18 to +22 degrees;
- must be carried out lighting in the cells - not bright, but constant throughout the daytime;
- humidity in cells needs high - at least 70%;
- cleaning of the quail dwelling should be regular;
- ventilation holes are required, but such that they do not create drafts;
- the birds selected for slaughter are kept separately from the main mass, having previously divided them into males and females.
Necessary feed
Feeding is reflected in the weight gain of the quail. Food can be used in two types:
- purchased for quail or chickens;
- home cooking.
If the second option is selected as a priority, then it necessarily includes:
- cereals;
- vegetables;
- greenery;
- a piece of chalk;
- salt;
- fish bone meal;
- unrefined oil.
Such a composition will contribute to the saturation of quail with all necessary elements.
In pursuit of profit, one should not forget that overfeeding birds can adversely affect not only their condition, but also the number of eggs laid.
Breeding quail breeds
Quail propagation is easy to carry out in captivity. To do this, choose 1 male and 2-4 females. All selected birds are planted in a common cage. After collecting the eggs, they are placed in an incubator, which can be homemade or purchased.
The incubation period lasts 17 days. With proper observance of all conditions, offspring appears on day 18.
Quail meat breeds are a profitable investment for agricultural entrepreneurship. Breeding costs will be small, but all bird keeping conditions must be observed: regular feeding, maintaining cell cleanliness, disease prevention, etc. As a result, healthy dietary meat is very much appreciated on the market.