For the people of Indonesia quail is not familiar anymore. This animal is indeed a wild animal that lives in the mountains. But the last few decades, this wild bird can be cultivated and developed commercially.
The market potential of quail is growing rapidly along with the needs of poultry eggs. Based on data from the Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health (2016), the quail population in Indonesia increased by 8.6% from 2015 reaching 13,782,000 heads to as many as 13,933,000 heads in 2016. While based on data in 2016 obtained from 34 provinces, the largest population of Quail livestock is in Central Java.
Along with the increasing public appetite for processed food eggs and quail meat, market demand is still insufficient. Looking at the prospects, farmers must know the procedures for quail cultivation, especially in an effort to maintain Quail health. That way when we carry out good maintenance management, quails can be healthy, grow well and perform optimally. We too can benefit.
Getting To Know Quail
Quail is a species or subspecies of the genus Coturnix spread throughout the world, except America. In 1870, the so-called Japanese quail japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) began to enter America. After that, quails began to develop around the world as farmed poultry. Quail was first bred in Indonesia in 1979 with imported seeds from abroad.
Characteristics of quails Coturnix coturnix japonica is the shape of the body is round and larger than other quails, the body length is about 19 cm and the tail is short. Body feathers grow completely at the age of 2-3 weeks and the difference in feather color between male and female quails is often used as a basis for sex determination. Female quails on their chest feathers are yellowish brown and decorated with black spots while male quails are plain yellowish brown without black spots.
Generally, the body weight of male quail is lighter than the body weight of female Quail. The average body weight of adult male quail is 117 grams / head while the body weight of female Quail reaches 143 grams/head. The male Quail's voice is heavy and distinctive while the female Quail's voice is loud and loud.
Quails are relatively resistant to disease. Mortality due to disease or other non-infectious factors is only about 10% (Wuryadi, 2013). But it is appropriate if we still have to pay attention to maintenance management, health programs and biosecurity used, as well as create a comfortable environment for quails.
Production Time Constraints
Quail performance will be optimal if the quail is healthy. Factors causing Quail health problems and decreased productivity can be grouped into 2, namely infectious and non-infectious factors.
1. Non-infectious
a. Stress
Quails easily experience stress. Each time the quail is removed from the cage starter to the cage grower as well as from the cage grower to the cage layer, Quail will experience stress. A high level of stress in quails can lead to decreased egg production. Stress can be due to the change of seasons or the result of too hot temperatures. The ideal temperature for quails is 24-30°C with a humidity of 85%.
The crowded atmosphere, rowdy or the presence of people who just want to look around makes quails stressed and surprised. Quail behavior when surprised, among others, running around or jumping, causing injuries to the body of Quail due to hit the walls and roof of the cage resulting in Quail feel uncomfortable. This can affect the appetite of quail so that there is a decrease in production and even death.
b. Too dense cage
The density of quail in the cage is one of the factors to consider because the high density level will result in Quail not freely move, cage temperature rises, accumulation of ammonia gas from feces, heat stress so that quails are susceptible to disease. Too dense Cage also resulted in a lot of Quail trampled to death (especially the future starter).
c. Nutritional needs do not match
The adequacy of nutrients in the ration also has a great effect on the productivity and state of health of quails. If the Quail lacks the necessary nutrients, there will be a deficiency that facilitates health and productivity problems. In addition, excess nutrients such as excess protein levels can increase ammonia levels in feces. Quails that are overweight due to excessive nutrition can experience prolapse as a result of weak perototan when removing eggs.
d. Cage construction is not good
Poor cage construction is seen in the cage hole that serves as an oviduct and cage floor. There have been many instances of Quail being pinched in the oviduct hole (egg outlet) as a form of effort to remove themselves from the cage Quail. Especially if the sharp wire can injure the Quail. The hole in the bottom of the cage that is too wide can also make the Quail's legs mired and pinched.
2. Infectious
a. Newcastle Disease (ND)
Symptoms of ND or tetelo disease in quail are almost the same as symptoms of ND disease in chickens, including quail difficulty breathing, snoring, lethargy, coughing, sneezing, sleepy eyes, and greenish watery stools. However, the most specific symptoms, among which the wings droop or go down, the way backwards or in circles, as well as the head looking down, even turning all the way back.
b. Avian Influenza (AI)
Transmission of this disease can be through contaminated air, water, rations and drinking places so that quails in one cage can be entirely affected by the disease Avian Influenza (AI) in a few days. This incident can give rise to mass death of quails. The symptoms of AI Quail disease are almost the same as the symptoms in chickens, especially the occurrence of sudden death in large numbers.
To the surviving quails look lethargic, loss of appetite, Quail feathers begin to fall out, swelling of the Quail's head or eyelids appears. There is also bleeding on the skin or on the part that is not covered with feathers, especially on the legs, and of course a decrease in the number of eggs produced.
c. Infectious Bronchitis
Disease of bronchitis in Quail it is an infectious disease and very quickly spreads. Clinical symptoms of this disease include the condition of the Quail becomes lethargic, Quail eyes and nose often secrete mucus, trembling body, coughing or snoring, difficulty breathing, and often experience symptoms similar to sneezing. In addition, this disease causes thin quail egg shells not even clustered.
d. Infectious Coryza
This disease is one of the diseases that often affects quails. Snot disease caused by bacteria Avibacterium paragallinarum which often attacks when the cage conditions are too humid and dense.
Chickens affected by korisa will experience swelling of the face, especially around the infraorbital sinus. In addition, not infrequently found also watery eyes like crying. When a carcass surgery is performed, it will be found around the infraorbitalis sinus, the presence of mucus or discharge from the nose that is initially thin and continues until it is thick with a pungent odor, such as the smell of rotten eggs.
e. Quail Enteritis
Quails that have been clinically infected show symptoms appear lethargic, closed eyes, feathers look dull, liquid stools and contain white uric acid.
f. Salmonellosis (pullorum)
Pullorum caused by bacteria Salmonella pullorum which can be transmitted from the mother through the eggs. Pullorum disease is identical to lime and often affects quail chicks. Mortality reaches 80% and the peak of mortality at the age of 2-3 weeks after hatching.
Quail attacked by this disease shows clinical symptoms such as decreased appetite, feces are white like chalk and stick around the rectum is white, the cloaca will be white because the feces have dried, wings hanging and dull, and like clustered. On the surgical changes of the carcass will be visible yellow and hard liver due to swelling. In the digestive tract appear white spots mainly on the mesentery (intestinal hangers, red) and the ventricular muscles as well as the cecum or appendix are filled with a cheese-shaped mass.
g. Coccidiosis
Signs of coccidiosis Quail will look lethargic, wings hanging or drooping down, feathers rough( not shiny), low appetite (anorexia), chills and loose stools mixed with blood. Usually in quails, the disease is caused by parasites Eimeria tenela which attacks by penetrating the intestine to cause injury.
How to keep quails healthy and produce optimally?
The things we need to pay attention to so that quails do not develop diseases and have optimal production include:
1. Maintaining Quail prime condition
To maintain the condition of quails remain prime, actions that must be done is:
a. Vaccination
Compared to other birds, quail is a type of poultry that has a fairly high resistance to disease, but still must be vaccinated aimed at bullying the immune system in the body to produce antibodies so that the Quail's immune system is more optimal.Some things that need to be considered in Quail vaccination are vaccination programs adapted to local conditions, proper vaccine administration techniques, uniform vaccine doses, and given to healthy quails. Vaccine administration to Quail must also be in accordance with the needs of quail, from the type and dose of vaccine, as well as the time and method of vaccine administration. Use good quality water if vaccinations are given through drinking water. Make sure the syringe is sterile and the needle is sharp if the vaccine application is by injection (injection). As a guide, we show an example schedule vaccination of quails in Table 1.
b. Cleaning program
Cleaning program aims to kill the seeds of diseases that are in the incubation period (the period between the entry of the seeds of the disease to cause clinical symptoms). Administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as Therapy, Neo Meditril, Trimezyn or Doctril for 3-5 days before the occurrence of the disease (note the history outbreak on previous maintenance).
c. Supplementation
Supplementation for quail aims to reduce stress, increase stamina and body power quail, and maintain optimal productivity. Its type of supplement consists of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and immunostimulants. Some products that can be given include Vita Stress, Quail Vitanak, Quail MediEgg, and Imustim.
2. Minimize disease seeds
Biosecurity is the keyword of the process of minimizing the seeds of disease. Without application biosecurity good, then the high population of seedlings will be entrenched in the cage. This can make quails susceptible to infectious diseases.
3. Maintain the cleanliness of the cage and equipment
Efforts to maintain cleanliness include sanitation and disinfection of cages and equipment. Drinkers must be washed and disinfected every time the farmer will change or fill drinking water, while the feeders, which are usually in the form of long wooden boxes, are simply dredged to prevent mold from growing on damp rations. In some cases the use of drinking places nipple, found a mossy drain pipe and clog that can cause Quail less drink dehydration. Do it anyway flushing to clean moss or biofilm which is attached to the water pipe.
Job descriptions: responsible to ensure the quality of the product and the quality of the product. responsible to ensure the quality of the product. responsible to ensure the quality of the product. responsible to ensure the quality of the product. responsible to Medisep/Antisep/Neo Antisep and drinking water sanitation with Desinsep.
Clean and remove accumulated feces daily after ration and drinking water. Exercise restrictions on unauthorized human traffic and apply footwear dip before entering and exiting the enclosure.
a. Control of wild animals and disease vectors
Pests that often disturb Quail livestock include rats, cockroaches, and ants. However, a fairly annoying pest is rats. This pest is everywhere and easily attacks anything, including spreading disease seeds and can even eat quail eggs. Prevention is by installing the egg container lid on the wire ram in the ventilation hole of the battery cage and always closing the door of the cage room. If pesticides are needed, then use as wisely as possible because inappropriate use will actually poison Quail (toxic).
b. Isolation of sick Quail
Sick quail is a major source of transmission of disease seeds and should be separated immediately so that transmission can be minimized, especially diseases Coryza. Meanwhile, the dead quail is immediately removed from the cage and destroyed by burial or burning.
C. Provide comfortable cage environmental conditions for quails
Comfortable environmental conditions include sufficient air, water and rations both in quality and quantity.
d. Create sufficient ventilation
The presence of ventilation is absolutely necessary, although in the future starter. Ventilation serves as an air traffic door. The air flow is likened to the flow of water then the incoming air must come out of the other side of the cage that is open or the occurrence of air circulation.
This is very important for quails because it can prevent disease seeds from mixing with the swirling air in the room. Vents should preferably be open on each side of the cage.
e. Adequacy of nutrition and drinking water
Drinking water should always be available or ad libitum. Also note the quality of drinking water both physical, chemical and microorganism content. The quantity and quality of the ration provided is decisive for the production and quality of quail eggs. The fulfillment of the need for these nutrients, will produce quality eggs, and also play a role in increasing the amount of quail egg production. Deficiency of nutrients in the ration will reduce the weight of eggs. One of them is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is related to calcium metabolism, so it is important in the formation of shellfish.
Another thing that needs to be considered is also in meeting the nutritional needs of Quail, including when changing the ration to the next period, it must be done gradually so that the livestock can adapt to the quality of the new ration. Before and after the change of ration also give multivitamins such as Vita Stress. Giving rations should not be late because it will affect egg production.
On phase Quail layerlighting, lighting is very important to pay attention to. Long exposure is an influential factor in egg productivity. The duration of lighting affects the conversion of the ration consumed by quails. Quails that get longer exposure will consume more rations. It is better to provide lighting to female quails for 24 hours, especially for female quails that are just starting to lay eggs. However, lighting can be provided 15 hours after all the quails have laid their eggs. Quails will get light from a 25 watt light bulb placed in every 3 units of the cage.
f. Avoid the atmosphere of conflict
The productivity of quails is largely determined by the convenience in production. Avoid quail from noisy and noisy atmosphere suddenly because it will make Quail more stress to reduce productivity and even death.
g. Adjust cage density
If the area of the cage is given more freely, it can ensure that all quails get the same opportunity to get rations, drinking water, and oxygen so that the growth and production of quails are uniform and prevent disease. The ideal number of quails in each box is a maximum of 40 per cage. Meanwhile, for one battery-shaped cage, the ideal number can be 15 heads per cage. Here we give an example of a standard guide to the density of the cage box for quail livestock (Table 2).
4. Make observations of Quail health
Observation of Quail health must be carried out at all times, namely when giving rations and drinking water, cleaning feces, giving vaccines, or other routine activities. The goal is that disturbances in Quail health are monitored, such as lack of appetite or symptoms of illness. Cage employees must also be sensitive when cage control if they find a pinched Quail must be helped to be released.
Quail farming has good potential to be developed. In order for this potential to be achieved, Of course, farmers must pay attention to the balance of the right health program and the creation of a comfortable environment. Furthermore, well-coordinated maintenance management is needed so that production can last longer and maximum profit can be obtained by farmers. Greetings.
