ASPECTS REGARDING SOME MORPHOLOGICAL VALUES OF THE DOMESTIC QUAIL EGGS (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA)

Abstract

The domestic quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) is the smallest bird subspecies that is breed in farms, for its meat and eggs production. Quail eggs are precious aliments and also have important drug value. It is a natural source of vitamins and mineral substances. However, in the speciality literature there is little information regarding the quality indexes (morphological, physical and chemical) of quail eggs. After measuring the egg shape index, the eggs volume, the specific egg weight and after also analysing the longitudinal and transversal diameter ratio we reached a series of conclusion: the average weight was of 10.44 ± 0.13 grams, the eggs volume was of 9.675 – 10.472 cm 3 and a specific weight of 0.996 ± 0.01 g/cm3. Likewise the dimensions of these eggs were: 32.34 mm – longitudinal diameter and 24.92 –24.97 mm for transversal diameter; the egg shape index had a value of 1.30/1, respective of 77.04 %. The quail eggs have albumen (egg white) that represents 58.37 % from the egg total weight, a yolk that represents 33.37 % and a mineral shell that represents 8.28 %.

Keywords

• morphological data
• eggs
• domestic quail
• quail breeding