A Comparative On-Farm Evaluation of Growth Performance and Feed Efficiency in the TANUVAS Namakkal Gold versus a Standard Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

This study evaluated the production performance of the newly developed "TANUVAS Namakkal Gold" quail strain in comparison to a standard Japanese quail control within the rural farming systems of Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India.A total of 300-day-old chicks (150 per strain) were distributed to selected farmers under a Front-Line Demonstration program.Production traits including body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were meticulously recorded over an 8-week period.Results indicated that Namakkal Gold quails exhibited superior growth, starting with a significantly higher day-old weight (8.45±0.34g vs. 7.83±0.19g)and culminating in an 18.4% higher final body weight at six weeks (326.17±8.81g vs. 275.57±5.42g).While Namakkal Gold quails consumed more cumulative feed (635.6±45.5g vs. 574.0±37.8g),they demonstrated a significantly better overall FCR (2.70 vs. 2.96), indicating superior feed efficiency.The growth pattern differed, with Namakkal Gold achieving peak weight gain later (weeks 3-4) compared to the control (weeks 2-3).The authors conclude that the Namakkal Gold quail strain presents a genetically superior alternative for commercial quail farming, offering significantly enhanced growth rates and better feed conversion efficiency, making it a highly suitable and profitable venture for rural farmers.