Research in: Agricultural & Veterinary Sciences

Quail farming is one of the fastest-growing and most economically profitable sectors of poultry production in Azerbaijan. However, non-contagious reproductive organ diseases significantly reduce the productivity and sanitary quality of slaughter products obtained from laying quails. The objective of this study was to conduct a veterinary-sanitary assessment of the meat and byproducts of quail affected by ovarian and oviduct pathologies, including peritonitis, salpingitis, oviduct rupture, and tumors. The research was conducted on White English and Manchurian Golden quails at the educational farm of the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University and on farms throughout the Ganja-Gazakh region. Clinical, hematological, and pathoanatomical examinations revealed severe inflammation, elevated leukocyte counts, reduced hemoglobin levels, and notable deviations in homeostasis. Productivity indicators were sharply reduced, and the live weight, slaughter yield, and meat commodity category did not meet regulatory standards. Pathological changes, such as the accumulation of serous-fibrinous exudate, concretions, and tumor-like formations, were detected in 70% of the diseased birds. The meat of affected quails displayed altered organoleptic and chemical properties, including increased moisture content and decreased protein, fat, and ash content. The study concludes that products from quails with reproductive organ diseases can only be used after undergoing mandatory high-pressure heat treatment. Carcasses showing advanced purulent-necrotic or tumor processes must be completely excluded from the food chain. These results underscore the importance of veterinary-sanitary assessments in ensuring food safety and preventing disease risks to consumers.