LAHORE, Nov 2 (ABC): Quail farming is gaining popularity in Punjab as rising demand from hotels and restaurants in major cities encourages farmers to establish quail farms in rural and suburban areas across the province.
Hotels and restaurants in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan are among the major buyers of quail meat, creating new business opportunities for farmers seeking alternatives to conventional poultry farming.
“Quail meat is considered a luxury food item and is mainly consumed in major urban centers, where people have greater purchasing power. Despite having a nutritional profile comparable to mutton, quail meat costs almost half as much as lamb,” said Dr Faizan Rashid, owner of a quail farm in Pattoki, near Lahore.
Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he said quail meat was selling for Rs1,450 per kilogram, compared with Rs2,400 per kilogram for mutton.
Dr Rashid said establishing a quail farm required less investment than setting up a conventional poultry farm. This was mainly because quail have a short production cycle and require relatively little space.
“A room measuring 100 square feet can accommodate up to 1,000 birds,” he said.
He explained that the early stages of rearing quail and conventional poultry were broadly similar, particularly in brooding and general management.
Temperature control was essential during the first few days. However, quail were generally hardier than conventional poultry in terms of disease resistance.
Unlike conventional poultry, quail do not routinely require vaccination under some farming practices. Nevertheless, disease prevention and veterinary care remain important.
Antibiotics may also be prescribed for bacterial infections when necessary, he added.
According to Dr Rashid, feed accounts for the largest recurring expense in quail farming.
A quail chick costs around Rs17, while a mature bird can sell for Rs70 to Rs100, depending on its size and market demand.
“Farmers’ earnings from quail farming depend on how efficiently they manage their birds and control production costs,” he said.
A Japanese-breed quail chick weighs approximately eight to nine grams at birth and can reach around 100 grams at maturity.
UVAS develops jumbo quail breed to improve meat yield
Dr Rashid said 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 production.
According to him, the initiative increased egg weight from 9.5 grams to 12 grams and the weight of day-old chicks from 6.5 grams to eight grams.
“The live weight of birds at 28 days of age has increased from 100 grams to 200 grams. Consequently, the dressed weight has increased from 50 grams to 100 grams,” he said.
However, Dr Rashid noted that the jumbo breed had yet to gain widespread acceptance among hotel and restaurant owners.
He explained that commercial food outlets generally preferred smaller quail for serving customers.
“The UVAS breed is popular among consumers who purchase the birds and cook them at home,” he said.
The development of larger quail breeds could create additional opportunities for farmers supplying household consumers, although market preferences remain an important consideration.
Market uncertainty remains a challenge for quail farmers
According to poultry and aviculture experts, quail farming remains a developing niche in Punjab, with potential for expansion as demand for alternative meat products increases.
Dr Farhan Afzal, Director of the Poultry Research Institute, Punjab, said quail farming offered several advantages for small-scale producers.
“Compact housing, relatively modest land requirements, a short production cycle and early maturity make quail farming an attractive business opportunity,” he said.
However, he cautioned that uncertain demand, fluctuating prices and limited access to regular buyers remained major constraints on the sector’s growth.
“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 said.
Dr Afzal explained that the Punjab Livestock Department supported the sector mainly through broader poultry research, extension services, training, veterinary diagnostics and regulation.
However, the department did not have a dedicated quail-farming assistance programme.
He said the sector’s main challenge was not simply improving the biological potential of quail.
Instead, farmers needed to address uncertain markets, production costs, inconsistent stock quality and an underdeveloped value chain.
As demand for quail meat grows in Punjab’s urban markets, experts believe the sector offers opportunities for small-scale farmers. However, sustainable expansion will depend on reliable buyers, efficient farm management and stronger market linkages.
