Quail Farming Emerges as Growing Business in Punjab

Quail farming is emerging as a growing niche livestock business in Punjab, with rising demand from hotels and restaurants in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan prompting farmers to establish small-scale farms in rural and suburban areas, attracted by the bird's short production cycle.

Key points

• The live weight of birds at 28 days of age has rose from 100 grams to 200 grams.
• The initiative rose egg weight from 9.5 grams to 12 grams and the weight of day-old chicks from 6.5 grams to eight grams.
• Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, he remarked quail meat is selling for around Rs.
• Quail meat is considered a luxury food item and is mainly consumed in major urban centres, where individuals have greater purchasing power.
• Dr Rashid remarked quail farming required substantially less investment than conventional poultry farming, primarily as of the birds' short production cycle and limited space requirements.

"Quail meat is considered a luxury food item and is mainly consumed in major urban centres, where individuals have greater purchasing power. Despite having a nutritional profile comparable to mutton, quail meat costs almost half as much as lamb, " remarked Dr Faizan Rashid, owner of a quail farm in Pattoki, near Lahore.

Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, he remarked quail meat is selling for around Rs. 1, 450 per kilogram against Rs. 2, 400 per kilogram for mutton, making it a comparatively affordable alternative for consumers seeking specialty meat products. KP Permits Quail Hunting Under New Rules.

Dr Rashid remarked quail farming required substantially less investment than conventional poultry farming, primarily as of the birds' short production cycle and limited space requirements. "A room measuring 100 square feet can accommodate up to 1, 000 birds, " he remarked.

He remarked the initial rearing process, including brooding and general management, is broadly similar to that of conventional poultry. Although quails were generally hardier and more resistant to diseases, temperature control was particularly significant during the first few days.

While antibiotics could be administered when prescribed for bacterial infections, unlike conventional poultry, quails did not routinely require vaccination under certain farming practices, he remarked, adding that disease prevention and veterinary care remained essential.

Feed, he remarked, is the biggest recurring expense in quail production. A day-old chick costs around Rs. While a mature bird could fetch between Rs, 17. 70 and Rs. 100, depending on its size and prevailing market demand.

He remarked profitability largely depended on efficient flock management, feed consumption, mortality control and access to reliable buyers. A Japanese-breed quail chick weighed around eight to nine grams at birth and could reach approximately 100 grams at maturity, he continued.

Dr Rashid remarked the Avian Research and Training Centre at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, had developed a jumbo quail breed to improve bird size and meat yield. The initiative rose egg weight from 9.5 grams to 12 grams and the weight of day-old chicks from 6.5 grams to eight grams. Meat From Lumpy Skin Disease-Infected Animals Seized in Lahore.

"The live weight of birds at 28 days of age has rose from 100 grams to 200 grams. Consequently, the dressed weight has rose from 50 grams to 100 grams, " he went on.

Nevertheless, the farmer stated the jumbo variety had yet to gain widespread acceptance among hotel and restaurant operators. This person generally preferred smaller birds for serving customers. "The UVAS breed is popular among consumers who purchase the birds and cook them at home, " he remarked.

Dr Farhan Afzal, director of the Poultry Research Institute, Punjab, described quail farming as an attractive emerging business opportunity, citing compact housing, limited land requirements, early maturity and a short production cycle as its key advantages.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that uncertain demand, rate fluctuations and limited access to regular buyers continued to constrain the sector's commercial expansion.

"These potential advantages do not automatically guarantee profitability. Reliable buyers, feed costs, chick quality, mortality rates and farm management practices determine the commercial viability of quail farming, " he remarked. PFA Seizes Over 1, 100 KG of Fake Snacks.

Dr Afzal remarked the Punjab Livestock Department backed the sector mainly through broader poultry research, extension services, farmer training, veterinary diagnostics and regulation, rather than through a dedicated quail-farming assistance programme.

He remarked the sector's expansion depended not only on the birds' production potential but additionally on addressing market uncertainty, controlling production costs, improving stock quality and developing a reliable value chain. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

For now, quail Farming Emerges as Growing Business in Punjab remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.