Heat stress effects on Japanese quail production and iSTAT

Heat-stressed Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) can experience blood acid-base disequilibrium and electrolyte disregulation. This disequilibrium may influence egg-shell quality, enzyme functions, and synthesis of tissue proteins. To determine effects of multi-generation heat stress on Japanese quail, the following treatments were applied (1) control (TN, non-sibling random mating at thermoneutral temperature [22.2°C]); (2) thermoneutral siblings (22.2°C, TNS); (3) heat stress (HS, non-sibling random mating at 31.1°C); and (4) heat stressed siblings (HSS, siblings of TNS with high feed conversion ratios (FCR), 31.1°C). Body weights (BW), blood gases, and electrolytes of quail were measured during the first 4 hours (acute) and after 3 weeks (chronic) of heat exposure (31.1°C) in generation 10 of the above-mentioned treatments. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05. Models included treatments, length of exposure, sex, and their interactions. Results showed that acut...,
FCR dataset

Body weight of birds was taken when sexual dimorphisms were apparent and birds were singularly caged. Approximately half were male and half were female. 
Feeders were placed outside of the cages with lids to prevent feed spillage. 
Feed intake was taken daily at the same time in the morning before quails began eating to obtain the 24-hour feed intake. 
After 7 days, body weight of birds was taken again.

Performance dataset

Non-sibling male and female pairs were placed in the same cage to mate. 
Eggs were collected and marked with the maternal wingband number from each pair every morning before the temperature increased in the temperature-controlled chambers which housed the birds.
Eggs were collected for 2 weeks.
Collected eggs were placed in a 12.78˚C chamber until all eggs were incubated together.
At days 9, 11, 13, and 15 of incubation, 20 eggs were cracked open for tissue collection; however, abnormalities in development such as early embryo death, late embryo death..., Microsoft Excel
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