| Livestock Research for Rural Development 29 (6) 2017 | Guide for preparation of papers | LRRD Newsletter | Citation of this paper |
Over the past few years, quail meat and eggs have gained popularity among consumers in Kenya. However, there is scanty information available regarding quail farming and differences between wild and farm-reared quails in Kenya. The aim of our study was to carry out a survey on quail farming in Kenya, document the indigenous knowledge traditionally used by rural farmers for quail farming and identify the phenotypic variations between wild and farm-reared quails. Seventy-eight wild quails and twenty-two farm-reared quails were sampled and morphological measurements of wing length, shank length and body weight were taken. Phenotypic characteristics of skin and shank color were also assessed.
Our results showed that wild quails are smaller compared to farm-reared quails. We also observed that wild and farm-reared quails in Kenya differ in skin color and shank color thus very distinct from each other. This information will prove useful towards conservation and sustainable use of the wild quail biodiversity and improvement of quail farming in Kenya.
Key words: cortunix, conservation, diversity, emerging livestock
Quails are widely distributed in Kenya as either wild or farm-reared populations. The most common wild species of quails found in Kenya include common quail (Coturnix coturnix), African blue quail ( Coturnix adansonii), rain quail (Cortunix coromandelica), and African harlequin quail (Cortunix delegorguei) (Lewis & Pomeroy 1989). Common quails travel from Europe during winter from the Mediterranean south to tropical Africa, where they overlap with African bird populations of the erlangeri and africana subspecies. They migrate back towards the end of January and start arriving in Northern Africa towards the end of February. Some carry on with the migration and arrive at South Europe (Spain, Romania) towards the end of March (Perennou C 2009). Coturnix Africana is resident in Africa (Fuller 2000).
In Kenya, the common quail is found in Turkana, Kisumu, Nairobi, Loita Hills and Tsavo. The African blue quail (Coturnix adansonii) is mainly found in Western and Southern Kenya and their migratory movement is not well documented. Their breeding season is during or after rains, and in Kenya, this happens between the months of May–July (Jackson 1926). The African harlequin quail species (Cortunix delegorguei) are both resident and migratory moving in large numbers into areas of lush grasslands (Alderton D 1922). They breed between the months of October to March and are commonly preferred for food. The rain quail ( Cortunix coromandelica) is nomadic and widespread in Kenya. Its movements coincide with the onset of the rains. Their breeding season is dependent on rainfall and it happens between March-October. The rain quail is closely related to the harlequin quail (Johns Gard 1988). The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is native to Asia but it is also found in many parts of Africa including Kenya. The species breeds between the months of May-August (Pappas 2016).
Since ancient times, quail meat and eggs have been a delicacy and there are even Biblical quotations of their use as a source of meat (Boni et al 2010). Recently, quail as an emerging livestock species has gained economic importance producing eggs and meat that are favored due to their unique flavor (Vali, 2008). Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is the most common farm-reared species in Kenya. They show earlier sexual maturity, greater egg production with higher hatching and survival rate. Wild Japanese quail lay 7 to 14 eggs per year, whereas farm-reared Japanese quail can lay about 280 eggs per year under normal feeding conditions (Chang et al 2009). Furthermore, farm-reared Japanese quail are better adapted to captivity and are more productive (Puigcerver et al 2007). Although all farm-reared quails are from wild species, many obvious differences are evident today (Chang et al 2005). Therefore, there is a need to study phenotypic and genetic variations between wild and farm-reared quails in Kenya. The valuable information garnered from this study will aid in the conservation of biodiversity as well as inform stakeholders in Kenya on a sustainable national breeding program for quails.
We conducted an initial countrywide survey in the year 2015 on indigenous methods of quail farming amongst farmers and middlemen in the following counties: Migori, Homabay, Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties. We also conducted a survey on commercial quail rearing among farmers in Kajiado, Kiambu and Nairobi counties.
Wild quail samples were collected from Siaya County while farm-reared quail samples were collected from peri-urban areas in Kajiado County in the year 2015. Siaya County is located on the shores of Lake Victoria. It receives an annual rainfall of between 1,170 mm -1,450 mm and temperature range of between 15°C -30°C. It lies between latitudes 0° 26´ North to 0° 90´ South and longitudes 33° 58´ East and 34° 35´ West. The altitude rises from 1140 m to 1400 m. Main economic activities in Siaya County include subsistence farming, livestock keeping, fishing, rice farming and small-scale trading. Kajiado County borders Nairobi and extends to theTanzania border further south. This county is dry with no continually flowing rivers and is a semi-arid region. The annual rainfall ranges between 500mm-1250mm and temperatures ranges between 20°C-30°C. The major economic activities in this county include agriculture, livestock production, poultry farming, tourism and forestry.
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| Figure 1. Map of Kenya showing counties surveyed; counties in yellow were additionally sampled (Source: http://d-maps.com/carte.php) |
This study received ethical clearance from the Kenya Wildlife Service under permit number KWS/BRM/5001 to sample wild quails and a “no objection for the research” from the Director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Kenya under permit number RES/POL/VOL.XXVII/162 to sample farm-reared quails.
We used questionnaires to interview farmer’s households in Siaya and Kajiado. A total of 78 wild and 22 farm-reared adult quails were sampled and characterized under field conditions for morphological traits. The determined sample size was meant to serve for both phenotypic and population genetic studies. Therefore, sampling was done according to Hale et al., (2012), who stated that around 20-30 individuals per population are sufficient for population genetic studies. Wing length, shank length and body weight measurements of each quail were taken. Other phenotypic characteristics assessed were skin and shank color.
Variations in traits between wild and farm-reared groups were tested by applying T-Test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using R Core statistical software version 3.1.2.
We confirmed that traditional quail farming method is practiced mainly in Western Kenya. This practice was evident in all the counties surveyed along Lake Victoria apart from Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia. We noted that following the long and short rains, wild quails are available seasonally in the market between May to July and November to February respectively. Wild quails are captured using indigenous methods that local farmers have used for many generations. This indigenous knowledge has been passed on from one generation to the next. Long poles, usually four meters in length, are placed on manmade thicket quadrants. The poles are usually bent and have small woven baskets around 10-30 attached on its sides each carrying either a male or female as bait (Figure 2).
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Figure 2. Images showing tools and methods used in traditional quail harvesting in Western Kenya. A – Long poles with woven baskets containing baited male and female quailsB - Woven basked with a baited quail C - Woven baskets containing baited male and female quails ready to be placed on a pole D - Man-made thicket quadrants E - Neck-traps made of threads set up in the thicket quadrants F – A male quail trapped with the neck-trap in the thicket quadrant |
Neck-traps made of thread are usually put on the manmade thicket quadrants shown above. The trapping of wild quails occurs at night from 12.00am to 3.00 am, when the baited females and males in the baskets sing to attract the other males and females for mating. The males and females come from a distance and are usually trapped with the neck-traps.
We noticed that all farmers were males for security reasons since the practice is usually done at night. It has not been established if this practice will eventually lead to an ecological imbalance since we observed that more male quails are often captured than females. The natural grassland areas which are common along Lake Victoria are fast disappearing due to increased farming. This observation, together with the dangers of climate change, are of main concern as the quail migration pattern is becoming unreliable hence this practice cannot be sustained in the long run.
We confirmed that the African harlequin quail (Cortunix delegorguei) is the most common wild quail species captured by many farmers in Western Kenya. We don’t rule out the fact that other wild quail species are also captured with these indigenous methods but we did not observe any other species during the 2015 survey. Phenotypically, the African harlequin quail in Western Kenya differs from farm-reared quails which at the time of our survey in 2015 were common in urban and peri-urban areas of Nairobi, Kiambu and Kajiado counties (figure 3). The most common farm-reared quail in Kenya is the Japanese quail, however, other species that are also popular with some farmers are also imported into Kenya (figure 3).
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Figure 3. Wild and farm-reared quails in Kenya A & B – Male and female African harlequin quail (Cortunix delegorguei)C & D – Male and female farm-reared Japanese quail (Cortunix japonica) E-H – Other farm-reared quail species found in Kenya; E&G are male and F&H are female |
Our study revealed variations in shank colour and skin color between wild and farm-reared quails in Kenya. Wild quails both male and female had the same skin and shank color that is yellow and pink/red respectively. Farm-reared quails whether male or female had the same skin and shank color which is pink and white respectively. Shank and Skin colour variations between wild and farm-reared birds have also been reported in other studies. Panyako et al (2016) reported variations in skin and shank colour between wild and domesticated farm-reared helmeted guinea fowls in Kenya. Variations in shank and skin colour have also been reported in indigenous chicken sampled from various regions in Kenya (Moraa et al., 2015).
Our results indicated no considerable body weight difference between male and female farm-reared quails (Table 1). However, there was a significant difference in body weight between male and female wild quails where the females were heavier than males. This finding was similar to results of Tavaniello (2014) who observed that female quails were slightly heavier than male quails.
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Table 1. T-test results on mean body weight variations between female and male quails |
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|
Species |
Sex |
Observation
|
Mean |
Degree of |
p |
|
Farm-reared |
Female
|
10
|
152
|
20.0
|
0.77
|
|
Wild |
Female
|
39
|
70.0
|
65.0
|
0.02
|
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01, ***= significant at 0.001 and NS= Not significant. |
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We also noted that farm-reared quails were heavier than wild quails (Table 2). Shanaway (1994) and Minvielle et al (2006) also reported that farm-reared quails, especially those kept for meat production, were heavier than wild quails.
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Table 2. ANOVA results on mean body weight variations between farm-reared and wild quails |
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|
Species |
Observation |
Mean |
Standard |
p |
|
Farm-reared |
22 |
95.1 |
8.45 |
<2e-16*** |
|
Wild |
78 |
67.6 |
9.17 |
<2e-16*** |
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01 and ***= significant at 0.001. NS= Not significant. |
||||
We observed that female farm-reared quails had longer wings when compared to the males (table 3).
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Table 3. T-test results on mean wing length variations between female and male quails |
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|
Species |
Sex |
Observation
|
Mean Wing |
Degree of |
p |
|
Farm-reared |
Female
|
11
|
100.0
|
18.6
|
0.00
|
|
Wild |
Female
|
39
|
96.0
|
73.3
|
0.39
|
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01, ***= significant at 0.001 and NS= Not significant. |
|||||
Wild quails had no significant wing length variation between male and females (Table 4). There was no significant wing length variation between wild and farm-reared quails. This is similar to the observations made by Chang et al (2009) who compared biological features between wild and farm-reared quails.
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Table 4. ANOVA results on mean wing length variations between farm-reared and wild quails |
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|
Species |
Observation |
Mean Wing |
Standard |
p |
|
Farm-reared |
22 |
95.1 |
8.45 |
0.34 |
|
Wild |
78 |
96.6 |
6.00 |
0.34 |
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01, ***= significant at 0.001 and NS= Not significant. |
||||
We found no variation in shank length between farm-reared female and male quails (Table 5). However, there was variation in shank length between female and male wild quails where females were found to have a longer shank length.
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Table 5. T-test results on mean shank length variations between female and male quails |
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|
Species |
Sex |
Observation
|
Shank |
Degree of |
p |
|
Farm-reared |
Female
|
11
|
38.4
|
20
|
0.62
|
|
Wild |
Female
|
39
|
31.4
|
76
|
0.00
|
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01 ***= significant at 0.001 and NS= Not significant |
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Farm-reared quails were observed to have a longer shank length in comparison to wild quails (Table 6). Shank length in quails was found to affect production traits and feed consumption (Dikmen & Ipek, 2006).
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Table 6. ANOVA results on mean shank length variations between exotic and wild quails |
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|
Species |
Observation |
Mean Shank |
Standard |
p |
|
Exotic quails |
22 |
38.2 |
2.00 |
*** |
|
Wild Quails |
78 |
31.0 |
1.10 |
|
|
*= significant at 0.05, **= significant at 0.01, ***= significant at 0.001 and NS= Not significant *** |
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The authors will like to thank Kenya Wildlife Service, The Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, extension officers and farmers who participated in the study. This research was funded by grants awarded to Dr. Sheila Ommeh by International Foundation of Science (IFS) under research grant number B/5364-1 in partnership with Syngenta Foundation and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) under research grant number JKU/2/4/RP/181.
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Received 27 January 2017; Accepted 20 March 2017; Published 1 June 2017