HISTORY OF QUAIL

The Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica,is a migratory, gallineous, ground dwelling game bird native to east Asia and Japan. They were first domesticated in the eleventh century as songbirds by the emperors of Japan. By 1910, their meat and eggs had become popular food items in that country. Different strains were developed for either meat or egg production (apart from the varieties that were bred for song types).

During the next three decades, there was a large increase in quail meat, and egg production in Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea. During World War II, because of food shortages, the songbirds were no longer kept by the palace and were completely lost. Even the production birds suffered a severe loss in numbers. After the war, new domestication and importation of domestic birds from China expanded domestic Japanese quail stocks. Hundred years back, there have been several stocking attempts at establishing Japanese quail as a game bird in North America. None were successful however, except for a 1921 release on the Hawaiian Islands. The birds established themselves on the islands and the population is now open for hunting. In the past few decades, the meat and eggs of Japanese quail have become popular in Europe and the Middle East. Today, quail meat is consumed in North America as gourmet food items. Quail meat is becoming a popular and regular part of the Canadian diet. In the late 1950’s, the potential usefulness of Japanese quail, as a research animal, began to be recognized.

The Quail called “bater” in Hindi, is a small type of bird that belongs to the Pheasant family. They were first domesticated in Japan in 1595. There are two species of quail in India; the black-breasted quail found in jungle (Coturnix Coromandelica) and the brown-coloured Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) which is bred for meat or the one used for commercial Quail production. During the year 1974,Central Avian Research Institute imported Japanese Quail from Davis,California for diversification in India. Since then lot of improvement have been made in their economic traits and husbandry practices through research. Like chickens, these birds are being used for food purpose in India. There are 45 species of quail. Although the Japanese quail is the largest species, it is much smaller then pigeon. While Indian quail weighs up to 100 gm and lays 100 eggs a year, the Japanese quail weighs up to 200 gm and lays 280 eggs a year. Few have been embarking on producing quail in a commercial scale because of lack of information and data on it especially with regards to feeding could not be a successful venture. Quails have been classified as game or hunting birds. They cannot be compared with chicken because their needs vary. Though Government of India is encouraging entrepreneurs to start quail farm, a government license is required to sell commercial Japanese quail considering the safe guard of jungle variety of the bird, which is a protected species. The Ministry of environment and forests delegated the power to grant license to the department of Animal husbandry. So, far more then 500 license has been issued in Maharashtra State alone.

Is quail meat preferred ? – YES

• • In history of Roman script, it is seen that the Quail ( batter ) meat is a human food from its ancient time.
• • The proper economical age of marketing Quail is about 5 weeks when they weigh nearly 200g with feed efficiency as 3.0.
• • The dressed carcass yield is about 70 percent. Breast and thighs contribute nearly 68 percent of the total carcass. The breast and legs are considered delicious.
• • Quail meat is tender, delicious and nutritious. The breast and legs are considered delicious.
• • The meat of Quail is of high quality. As it contains balanced protein and essential amino acids with less carbohydrate.
• • Less fat content (Low calorific value) with more of phospholipds. No fear of Cholesterol.
• • The meat and eggs of quail birds are good for the health and hence recommended strongly.
• • The quail (butter) meat is having low heat producing capacity which is the advantages for children and pregnant ladies.
• • Quail meat promotes body and brain development in children.
• • Best balanced food for pregnant and nursing mothers.
• • In Kerala State, even today the quail meat is used for Asthama patients to increase their immunity.

(Ref.: *Lavhi-Pakshi Palan,Dr.Bhimashankar Rajmane,1993, ** Panda and Srivastava, 1987 )

The Composition of Quail meat (Raw Meat)