: The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has launched an innovative Anaswara project to popularise quail rearing in urban households in the State under a homestead cage system.
The project, developed by the College of Avian Sciences and Management (CASM), Thiruvazhamkunnu in Palakkad district, is aimed at popularising quail farming by using a specially designed hanging cage in households, especially in urban areas where the conventional cage system of quail farming poses practical difficulties in managing it, said B. Ajith Babu, Assistant Professor, Poultry Science Department, CASM.
A unit consists of 10 high-producing layer-type quails, a wire mesh cage with automatic nipple drinkers, portable hanging assembly for cages, detachable aluminium tray for dropping collection, deodorant acidifier spray, 4 kg of quality layer quail feed, and a leaflet on quail farming. Each unit is expected to produce nearly 2,800 eggs a year, which will ensure nutritional security and sustainable agriculture practice, Dr. Ajit, who is also the project coordinator of the programme, said.
Quails start laying eggs in 6 to 8 weeks and the university would distribute ready-to-lay quails under the project. Moreover, the automatic nipple drinker, egg tray, and feed channel attached with the high-tech cages make the management of birds easy, T.P. Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU, said.
The deodorant acidifier spray, supplied along with the unit, is an innovative approach of the university to make the unit more acceptable by reducing the probable ammonia smell from poultry droppings, Dr. Sethumadhavan said. The distribution of quail units, each unit costs Rs. 2,850, has been started at CASM, Thiruvazhamkunnu.
The directorate would distribute the units through the sale counters on the Mannuthy and Pookkode campuses soon, he added.
For more details, contact phone numbers 04924208206 or 9446096855.
