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Quail birds the new cash-cow

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A NEW craze has hit the agriculture sector making enthusiastic producers upbeat about reaping huge returns.
Quail bird-production is proving to be one of the fastest growing agriculture ventures attracting many locals as a result of its high returns.
Quail-production has become the new cash-cow in the sector presently beset with numerous challenges threatening viability.
With the market now flooded with locally produced and imported cheap chickens, a significant number of players are diversifying into quail bird and egg-production.
One such person who has not been left behind in the new quail bird and egg-production venture is small-scale urban farmer Chipo Manjokoto, who is based in Harare.
“I have always been an avid livestock producer rearing chickens, pigs and cattle so when I heard about quail production I decided to take it up,” Manjokoto told The Patriot.
“I did not receive any formal training on quail bird-production, I just used the knowledge I had on chicken production and advice from fellow farmers.”
Starting with only 26 birds in November last year, Manjokoto said she had been motivated not only by the huge returns associated with the venture but by the love of rearing animals.
“I started my quail rearing project three months ago and I have grown from 26 birds and now I have more than 900 birds at different levels of maturity ranging from the day-old chicks to those that are ready for consumption,” she said.
“The demand for eggs and birds, especially by those consuming them for health reasons, is high hence I have increased my numbers over a short period but I still have overwhelming orders.
“I started off without an incubator for the eggs which made operations difficult as the birds, unlike chickens, do not hatch their eggs. The eggs must be placed in an incubator, so I used to hire one.”
Manjokoto has now acquired an incubator which carries 3 000 eggs and is also hiring it out to new players.
“On the local market we sell ready to lay or eat quails for US$4 per bird, day-old chicks are sold for US$1 each, with the price increasing by US50 cents after every week and the eggs are sold for US$5 per crate,” she said.
Quail meat and eggs are now widely eaten by health-conscious people.
Research has shown that quail eggs have numerous medicinal properties that help strengthen the immune system, treat nervous diseases, fertility, gastro intestinal tract disorders, liver, renal, blood pressure and circulatory diseases, as well as metabolic diseases such as gout and diabetes.
Quail eggs are said to have brilliant regenerative effects on the body therefore are recommended for the elderly.
They are said to calm down and cure many diseases attributed to old age, deficiency or excess nutrients in the body.
According to health experts, for adults quail eggs help renew the state of health and bring the body to equilibrium, combats the degenerative process while rejuvenating the body, revives memory and protects nerve cells, improves sexual potency, reinforces organs weakened by physical work or stress and fortifies the immune system.
In children quail eggs are said to help improve physical and mental balance and help improve their IQ levels.
In Japan, where the quails were first domesticated, children are required to take two quail eggs per day, which enhances their memory.
Quail bird-production involves low production costs compared to production of chicken.
“Quail birds are smaller in size hence they occupy a small space and they consume lesser feeds compared to chickens. The period of rearing is the same six weeks,” said Manjokoto, who is also a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) prison officer.
“Quail bird feed consists of millet (mhunga) mixed with maize crumbs, broiler (feed) crumbs and when the birds are at a point of laying the birds are fed with layers’ mash.
“The birds are also resistant to diseases and unlike chickens, they are not prone to diseases. Rarely do the birds die of sickness and this means one saves money as there are no chemicals required (sic).”
Quail birds start laying eggs at six weeks and at that time they are also ready for consumption.
With agriculture being one of the main drivers of the economy, it is hoped an increased number of players will not only help boost the sector but also help improve the quality of lives.

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