No abstract

(1) The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME(N)) content of solvent-extracted rapeseed and sunflower seed (un-decorticated) meals in relation to species (chicken, guinea fowl and quail) and dietary addition of feed enzymes (0 or 0.5 g/kg diet) was evaluated by a diet replacement method in a 3 x 2 factorial design. (2) The metabolism trial was conducted at two substitution levels (200 and 400 g/kg diet) of each meal with or without supplementation of commercial enzyme preparation in 6 individuals or 6 groups of cockerels, guinea fowls and quails. (3) The experimental diets were fed for a period of 12 d followed by a 3-d collection period during which total feed consumed and droppings output were quantitatively recorded. (4) The AME(N) values of rapeseed meal for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails were 8.4, 8.7 and 8.8 MJ/kg, respectively, while the corresponding values for sunflower seed meal were 6.1, 6.1 and 6.2 MJ/kg dry matter, without enzyme supplementation. (5) The AME(N) value of rapeseed meal did not improve with enzyme supplementation. However, AME(N) values of sunflower seed meal significantly increased with enzyme supplementation, from 6.1 to 6.5 MJ/kg dry matter. (6) Since AME(N) values of rapeseed meal and sunflower seed meal were similar in chicken, guinea fowl and quail, values reported for chicken could, therefore, be used for guinea fowl and Japanese quail.

(1) Total and free gossypol contents were 6.2 and 0.8, 5.4 and 0.5, and 6.1 and 0.7 g/kg in meals processed (solvent extracted) from Bollgard (BG) II, non-BG II or commercial cottonseeds, respectively. (2) Broiler chicks were given one of 7 dietary treatments (iso-nitrogenous, 220 and 195 g crude protein/ kg diet at 0 to 21 and 21 to 42 d, respectively, at a metabolisable energy concentration of 12.15 MJ/kg). The treatments were: D1 (control, soybean meal [SBM] based), D2 and D3 (commercial CSM at 100 g/kg of diet with and without additional iron), D4 and D5 (BG II CSM with and without additional iron), and D6 and D7 (non-BG II parental CSM with or without additional iron). (3) Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, nutrient utilisation, certain blood constituents and carcase traits were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. (4) Weights of bursa and thymus were significantly higher in groups given diets containing BG II or non-BG diets containing added iron. (5) The results suggest that low free gossypol content cottonseed meals, for example, BG II, non-BG II and commercial solvent-extracted CSM could be included at 100 g/kg in broiler diets, safely replacing soybean meal without additional iron.

The influence of dietary amino acid profile on growth and immune response was investigated in growing quails (n = 928) divided into 24 subgroups. Eight dietary treatments with four levels of essential amino acids (EAA), viz. 90, 100, 110 and 120% of NRC, each with or without fishmeal (FM), were formulated following a four (EAA levels) times two (protein type) factorial design. Each treatment was allotted to three replicates up to 5 weeks of age. After 5 weeks of age 10 quails were randomly sacrificed from each treatment to study the relative weight of immune organs. Live weight gain was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in diets containing 120% EAA with or without FM and 110% EAA with FM during 0 to 21 days of age. However, live weight gain from 21 to 35 days of age was higher (P < 0.01) in quails received diets containing 90% EAA with or without FM and 100% EAA without FM than in other dietary treatments. Live weight gain increased linearly (P < 0.01) with the increase in EAA levels overall (0-35 days). Feed intake was higher (P < 0.01) in diets with higher EAA levels (110 and 120%) from 0 to 21 days. The interaction of EAA and protein type influenced (P < 0.05) feed intake from 21 to 35 days of age. There was linear decrease (P < 0.01) in feed intake with the lowering of EAA level up to 100% during 0 to 35 days. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better (P < 0.01) up to day 21 at higher EAA levels (110 or 120%) while during days 21 to 35 better FCR was calculated (P < 0.01) in diet with low EAA levels (90 or 100%). FCR was improved in all vegetable protein diet in comparison with FM diet. Energy efficiency up to 21 days of age was better (P < 0.01) at high EAA levels (110 and 120%), while thereafter better at low (P < 0.01) EAA levels (90 and 100%). Protein efficiency improved linearly (P < 0.01) with decreasing EAA level. Humoral (SRBC) and cellular (PHA-P) immune response did not differ in response to EAA levels or protein type. Higher (P < 0.01) relative weight of spleen was recorded at 100% EAA level, while the relative weight of thymus was higher in diet containing 110% EAA level without fishmeal.

The influence of dietary levels of L-threonine (Thr) on growth and immune response was investigated in growing (0-5 weeks of age) Japanese quails (n = 288). Three dietary treatments were formulated using three levels of Thr [9.6, 10.2 and 11.2 kg −1 diet dry matter (DM)] at a fixed protein level of 233 g kg −1 and an energy level of 12.15 MJ (2900 kcal) metabolizable energy (ME) kg −1 feed dry matter. A metabolism trial with a 3-day collection period was conducted at the third week of age employing all the birds. The cell-mediated (using PHA-P) and humoral (SRBC response) immune responses were measured at the fourth week of age. Carcass traits were assessed at the end of fifth week of age. Body weight gain was lower (P < 0.01) in birds received 9.6 g Thr kg −1 DM than in groups fed 10.2 g or 11.2 g kg −1 DM in the diet, but there was no significant difference in gain between the groups fed 10.2 or 11.2 g Thr kg −1 DM in the diet. Feed intake differed significantly owing to Thr levels being lowest (P < 0.05) at 9.6 g Thr kg −1 DM in the diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency and energy efficiency improved at the 11.2 g kg −1 level from 0 to 3 weeks of age; however, from 3 to 5 weeks of age, better FCR emanated from a diet with 9.6 g Thr kg −1 DM. The nitrogen balance did not differ (P > 0.05) with Thr level. Carcass traits, relative weight of immune organs and cell-mediated (PHA-P) and humoral (SRBC response) immune responses did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) as a result of the dietary treatments.

An experiment was conducted to assess the dietary levels of calcium at various energy levels in the diets of laying Japanese quail (n῎.**). Eight dietary treatments were formulated involving two levels of energy (,3** and ,1** kcal ME/kg) and four levels of calcium (,./, ,.1/,-.* and-.,/ῌ) in ,῍. factorial design. Each dietary treatment was o#ered to five groups of +*, i.e. /* laying quail from 3ῌ+2 weeks of age. Hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake and egg mass were non significant (Pῐ*.*/) due to dietary treatments. Feed conversion (P῏*.*+) in terms of feed per unit egg mass or feed per dozen eggs, and net feed conversion (P῏*.*+) improved with the increased calcium level up to-.*ῌ of diet. The shape index, shell thickness or shell weight as percent of egg weight, however, did not change due to the levels of calcium. Except daily feed intake (P῏*.*+), other traits did not di#er due to dietary energy concentration. Regression analyses revealed that egg mass (P῏*.***.,), egg production (P῏*.**3.), change in body weight (P῏*.*.,), feed intake/kg egg mass (P῏*.**.-), feed intake/doz. egg (P῏*.**+,), net e$ciency (P῏*.***+1) and shell thickness (P῏ *.*/.) were improved linearly with the increase in levels of calcium in diet. On partitioning of calcium and ME intake into maintenance, gain and egg mass, the R , value emanated for partitioning of calcium and metabolizable energy were highly significant (P῏*.***+) and the co-e$cient values for di#erent function were also logical. It can be concluded that the dietary level of ,1** kcal ME/kg and-.*ῌ calcium were beneficial for optimum production of quail during their peak production.

1. Nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy values (AMEN) of three varieties of sorghum (white-low tannin, brown-medium tannin and red-high tannin) were measured in three species of poultry (cockerel, guinea fowl and Japanese quail) by a practical diet replacement (total collection) method. 2. Each variety of sorghum was tested at two concentrations (200 and 400 g/kg of reference diet) in 6 replications with one cockerel or guinea fowl or two quails per replication. The duration of the trial included a 10 d preliminary feeding period (on conventional grower diet) followed by a 12 d adaptation period (on reference and test diets) and a 3 d balance period (with recording of feed intake and excreta output). 3. The calculated AMEN values of different sorghum varieties were: white--12.9, 12.8 and 12.7; brown--12.7, 12.3 and 12.6; and red--11.4, 11.1 and 11.6 MJ/kg for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails, respectively. The mean AMEN value of red sorghum (11.3 MJ/kg) was significantly lower than those of brown (12.5 MJ/kg) or white sorghum (12.8 MJ/kg). A negative correlation was observed between tannin concentration and AMEN. 4. There was no significant difference in the AMEN values of white, brown and red sorghum varieties to the different poultry species. AMEN values of sorghum for the cockerel could, therefore, be used in practical feed formulation for guinea fowl and quail.

The effect on egg production of graded levels of ideal amino acids, combined with reduced protein in the diet, was investigated in 312 laying quails aged 6-18 weeks. The quails were offered six diets, each of which contained one of three levels of amino acids (85, 100 and 115% of essential amino acids (EAAs)) together with 5% or without fishmeal (FM) (3 × 2 factorial design). Each diet was offered to 26 replicated groups of two quails each. Hen-day and hen-housed egg production did not differ as a result of EAA level, protein type or their interaction during the overall period of egg production. Egg weight improved linearly (P < 0.01) with increased EAA levels, while egg mass output per bird per day remained similar at the 100 and 115% EAA levels. Quails fed higher (100 and 115%) EAA levels had an improved feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) compared to birds fed 85% EAA. The gain in body weight during the laying period was higher (P < 0.01) at the 100 or 115% than at 85% EAA levels The ratio of egg mass or egg mass and live weight gain, together, to protein intake improved (P < 0.01) linearly with a decrease in EAA levels in the diets, while better (P < 0.01) energy efficiency (EE, energy intake: egg mass) and net EE (energy intake: egg mass plus gain) was obtained in higher EAA levels (100 or 115%). Protein and energy efficiencies remained similar due to protein type or interaction. Shape index, albumen index, yolk index, yolk colour and relative shell weight did not differ due to EAA levels, protein type or their interaction. Eggs laid from quails fed diets with 100% EAAs without FM and 115% EAAs with or without FM had higher shell thickness than those on 85% EAAs irrespective of protein type. The retention of nitrogen and calcium retention was higher (P < 0.01) at the 115% EAA level. The results indicated a dietary level of 100% EAA (185 g kg −1 crude protein (CP)) with 12.13 MJ kg −1 was suitable for laying quails of 6-18 weeks of age.