الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive
performance, some physiological parameters, eggshell ultrastructure, egg
weight loss% and hatching traits of Japanese quail females varying in
eggshell color and pattern using image analysis. A total number of 225 five
weeks-old Japanese quails (150♀ + 75♂) were used. Females were classified
into four groups according to their eggshell color and pattern, 1st group [Light
eggs (none or rarely of very small spots)], 2nd group [dotted eggs (small and
much spots)], 3rd [spotted eggs (large and many spots)] and 4th group [dark
eggs (very large and few spots)]. A total of 2900 eggs were selected from the
four groups of eggshell color and pattern to perform two consecutive hatches
of eggs collected for 12 days consecutive each. Eggs of the first hatch were
stored for 11 days at room temperature (ranged from 21-25°C and relative
humidity 50-60 %) and the eggs of the second hatch were stored for 11 days
in a refrigerated room (17○C and 70 % relative humidity). The results of the
present study are as follows: Light eggshell color group had higher clutch
number, pause number, pause length, values of red, green and blue of
eggshell, hue, lightness, and egg weight loss % at different periods of storage
and embryonic mortality % (mid and late) and worst eggshell ultrastructure.
Light eggshell color group had lower clutch length, egg production%, egg
mass from 57-84 days, antibody titer against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs),
saturation of eggshell, hatchability %, hatchability/fertile eggs % (H/F %),
chick weight and chick weight % than other groups. The dark eggs group
had the highest values of plasma triglycerides, hatchability% and H/F %, and
it had the lowest values of clutch number, pause number, values of red,
green, blue, hue and lightness, egg weight loss % at different periods of
storage and early embryonic mortality %. Spotted and dark eggshell groups
had the highest values of shell% and shell thickness. Hue of quail eggshell
positively correlated with each of clutch number, pause number, pause
length, shape index, egg weight loss % and embryonic mortality (mid and
late) but it negatively correlated with each of clutch length, egg production,
egg mass, Haugh unit, shell %, shell thickness, plasma cholesterol and
calcium, hatchability % and H/F%. Saturation of eggshell color positively
correlated with clutch length, malondialdehyde, antibody titer against SRBCs
and late embryonic mortality % and negatively with each of clutch number,
pause number, pause length, Haugh unit, shell %, plasma globulin, total
antioxidant, packed cell volume, hemoglobin and H/F %. Lightness of
eggshell color correlated positively with each of clutch number, pause
number, egg weight loss %, fertility % and early embryonic mortality but it
negatively correlated with each of clutch length, yolk index, Haugh unit,
shell%, malondialdehyde and H/F %. Egg weight loss% increased with
increasing time and temperature of pre-incubation storage. Negative
correlations were found between time of storage and each of hatchability %,
fertility% and H/F%, however, it was positively with embryonic mortality.
It can be concluded that, selection should be focus on females
producing spotted and dark eggshell which had better reproductive
performance, eggshell ultrastructure and hatchability% compared to females
with light eggshell color using image analysis.
Key Words: Quail, reproductive performance, eggshell color, image analysis,
immunity, egg quality, eggshell ultrastructure, hatching traits.