An experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the performance and quality of eggs from meat quails from two genetic groups during 84 days of experiment. A total of 98 birds averaging 258 kg and 40 days old was assigned to a completely randomized design with two genetic groups (A and B) and seven replications of seven birds each. The evaluated characteristics were: diet consumption (g/bird/d), average egg weights (g), laying per bird per day (%) and per lodged bird (%), percentage of viable eggs produced, percentage of viable eggs/bird/d, egg mass (g/bird/d), conversion by egg mass (kg/kg), conversion by egg dozen (kg/dz), specific gravity (g/cm³), egg yolk weight (g), albumen and shell, percentage of yolk, albumen and shell, height and diameter of eggs (mm), viability of birds (%), initial and final weight (g) and weight gain (g). The genetic group B showed lower initial weight at 40 days old, higher weight and percentage of shell and better specific gravity of eggs. The other characteristics did not differ between the genetic groups. Both evaluated genetic groups have satisfactory performance in the period from 40 to 124 days old.
body weight; Coturnix coturnix coturnix; laying; production; strain
