| 摘要: | 本試驗之目的係在探討臺灣涼季鵪鶉飼養密度與修喙對產蛋性能及羽毛外觀之影響。分二個試驗進行，以5週齡體重相近之雌鵪鶉為試驗動物，試驗一逢機分配於二個處理組，即高密度與低密度飼養，分別每處理為192與144隻，高密度為32／籠（71.25cm^2／5隻），共6籠，低密度為24隻／籠（95cm^2／隻），共6籠。試驗二分修喙及未修喙（對照組）二處理組，每處理128隻，採32隻飼養於1籠，各4籠。二個試驗期均為6週，飼料及飲水採任飲食。結果顯示，試驗一鵪鶉採食量及飼料換蛋率在高密度與低密度飼養二處理組之間無顯著差異，蛋殼強度與厚度亦不受飼養密度之影響；然而高密度飼養的鵪鶉其背部有因啄羽而造成皮膚裸露的現象。試驗二鵪鶉採食量、飼料換蛋率及蛋殼強度未受修喙處理之影響，蛋殼厚度以修喙處理組較厚（P＜0.05），修喙處理組在試驗開始後2及3週有較高的產蛋率（P＜0.05），然而試驗全期二處理組之間無顯著差異。鵪鶉未修喙亦有較差的背部羽毛覆蓋。綜合上述，基於啄羽毛仍然是一個重要的動物福利問題，因此從鵪鶉背部皮膚的裸露程度來判斷，低密度鵪鶉飼養或於高密度飼養時進行修喙對鵪鶉可能是有利的。
The purpose of this experiment is to explore the effects of the housing density and beak trimming on egg laying performance and feather appearance of quail during cool season in Taiwan. Two trials were carried out. Female quails with similar body weight at 5 weeks of age were used as experimental animals. In experiment 1, 192 and 144 quails were allocated to two treatment groups, i.e., high-density and low-density housing with 32 and 24 birds per cage (71.25 vs. 95 cm^2/bird), total of 6 cages per treatment, respectively. In experiment 2, 256 birds were divided into two treatment groups with beak trimming and no beak trimming (control group). In each treatment, 32 birds were put in one cage, with a total of 4 cages. Both experiments lasted for 6 weeks, and the feed and water were supplied ad libitum. The results show that no significant difference in average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate between the high-density and low-density housing groups. The strength and thickness of the eggshell were not affected by the housing density. However, feather pecking was found in quails reared in high-density housing with the observed bald areas on their back. In experiment 2, feed intake, feed conversion rate and eggshell strength were not affected by the beak trimming. However, the eggshell was thicker in the beak trimming group (P ＜ 0.05). The beak trimming group had a higher egg production rate (P ＜ 0.05) at 2 and 3 weeks following the beginning of the experiment, but there was no significant difference in egg production rate between the two treatment groups throughout the experiment. Quails have poor feather coverage on their backs in non-beak trimming group. In summary, based on the fact that feather pecking is still an important animal welfare issue, judging from the degree of bald areas on the back of quails, low density housing or beak trimming in high-density housing may be beneficial to the quail. |
