Abstract

SUMMARY
Eighteen birds (six 4-week-old, six 8-week-old and six 12-week-old Japanese quails) of both sexes were used in this study. Post acclimatization, the birds were slightly sedated, weighed (live weights) and subsequently euthanized, dissected and the different parts of the gastrointestinal tract located and eviscerated from which the comparative morphometric studies were carried out. The numerical data generated were subjected to statistical analyses using the Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Graphpad Prism Instant statistical package 4.0, with values of P ≤ 0.05 considered significant. The arithmetic means (MEAN) and coefficients of variation (CV) for the traits studied were determined and the significance of differences between mean values for Japanese quail of different ages within the same sex and between males and females of the same age were then determined using Student’s t-test. As Japanese quail age their body weight increases and the males had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater GIT length than the females whereas the small intestine and colon were shorter in older than in younger birds. As Japanese quail became older there was increase in the length of the esophagus plus crop as well as caeca with the caeca length of the males differing significantly (P ≤ 0.05) when compared with the females. In addition, Proventriculus plus gizzard, liver and heart weight increases with age, with the males having greater proventriculus plus gizzard and liver weight which differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05). The internal organs of Japanese quail of different sexes differed in terms of weight and percentage in total body weight.
KEY WORDS: Morphometric, Digestive system and Japanese quail.

Key words: KEY WORDS: Morphometric, Digestive system and Japanese quail.