Performance of japanese quails fed feeds containing different corn and limestone particle sizes

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating performance and egg quality of Japanese quails fed feeds containing different corn and limestone particle sizes. A total number of 648 birds in the peak of production was distributed in a random complete block experimental design, using a 2x3 factorial arrangement (2 corn particle sizes and 3 limestone particle sizes). Birds were designated to one of two blocks, with six replicates of 18 birds each. Mean geometric diameter (MGD) values used were 0.617mm and 0.723mm (corn fine and coarse particle sizes, respectively), and 0.361mm, 0.721mm, and 0.947mm (limestone fine, intermediate and coarse particle sizes, respectively). The following treatments were applied: T1: fine corn feed, with 100% fine limestone; T2: fine corn feed, with 50% fine limestone and 50% intermediate limestone; T3: fine corn feed, with 50% fine limestone and 50% coarse limestone; T4: coarse corn feed, with 100% fine limestone; T5: coarse corn feed, with 50% fine limestone and 50% intermediate limestone; T6: coarse corn feed, with 50% fine limestone and 50% coarse limestone. The experiment lasted 112 days, consisting of 4 cycles of 28 days. No significant interaction was observed among corn and limestone particle sizes for any of the analyzed parameters. There were no significant effects (p>0.05) of the tested corn particle sizes on quail performance or egg quality. There were significant (p<0.05) isolated effects of limestone particle size only on the percentage of cracked eggs, which was reduced when birds fed 50% coarse limestone (0.947mm) and 50% fine limestone (0.361mm) as compared to those fed 100% fine limestone. Therefore, the inclusion of 50% coarse limestone (0.947mm) is recommended for quail egg production.

Poultry Offal Meal as a Substitute to Dietary Soybean Meal for Japanese Quails (<i>Coturnix coturnix japonica</i>): Assessing the maximum inclusion level and the Effect of Supplemental Enzymes

“…The differences observed for FCR (Table 5) between the treatments were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The average values of FCR obtained in this study in terms of kg feed consumed to produce dozen eggs were comparatively higher than those reported by Berto et al, (2007) for Japaese quails (0.39 kg/dz) fed with feeds containing different corn and lime stone particles. This may be mainly due to adoptation of mixed sex rearing system during the experimental period.…”

Effect of feed particle size on growth and egg-laying parameters of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in Côte d’Ivoire

“…The best egg-laying rates obtained in the present study were 81.67%; 86.67% and 88.33% respectively for GD 3, LD 2 and LD 3. These results corroborate those of [45]; [46]; [47]; [48] as well as [49]. These authors indeed obtained laying rates between 82% and 89.36% during a laying period of eight weeks (from the sixth to the fourteenth week).…”

Potential use of fish meal (Sardinella maderensis), snail meal (Achatina fulica) and African Locust Beans (Parkia biglobosa) in Japanese quails diets: zootechnical and nutritional performance

“…Indeed, the synergistic action resulting from the association of several protein sources in the A3 food has already been demonstrated by many researchers including Smith [33] who showed that various protein sources lead to better performance of spawn subjects. The daily egg laying rates obtained in quails in this study are lower than those obtained by Marques et al [34], Berto et al [35], Hassan [36] and Abdel-Azeem [30]. who worked respectively on quails during a period ranging from the 6 th to the 14 th week.…”