Effects of cadmium administration on reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

The effects of a single dosage of cadmium (Cd) administration on the survival rate, body weight (BW), egg production, egg quality characteristics and hatching outputs in 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 mg CdCl2/kg BW injected laying quail were studied. It was found that a 10 mg Cd injection induced 41.7% mortality. A retainable significant BW loss in the 3 mg dosed birds and a decreased egg production in the 1 mg and 3 mg dosed birds were observed during the first 3 days after injection, and the recovering of the egg production rate was delayed as the doses of Cd injection increased. Cd administration significantly increased the shell membrane weight in 0.1 mg and 0.3 mg injection, decreased the eggshell thickness in 0.3 mg injection, and lowered the fertility rate in 0.3 mg injection during the first 3 days of injection. The present study suggests that exposure to Cd, even by a single dosage, can hamper quail reproduction for a very short time, mainly by decreasing egg production and thinning the eggshell.