Effect of Using Organic Acids and Enzymes on Performance of Japanese Quail Fed Optimal and Sub- Optimal Energy and Protein Levels 1. Malic Acid

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of dietary malic acid supplementation as a growth promoter on Japanese quail performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal villi and pH, bacteria enumeration, blood parameters, digestibility coefficients and economical efficiency. A total number of 360 unsexed day-old Japanese quail chicks were equally divided into 4 groups of 6 replicates each. Two starter-grower corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) basal diets were formulated to contain 24 % CP & 2900 kcal ME /kg diet and 22 % CP & 2750 kcal ME /kg diet, respectively. Also, two layer C-SBM basal diets were formulated to contain 20 % CP & 2900 kcal ME /kg diet and 18 % CP & 2750 kcal ME /kg diet, respectively. Each of the 4 basal diets was either unsupplemented or supplemented with 0.05 % malic acid. Therefore, 4 experimental treatments were used in both startinggrowing and laying periods. Each chick group fed one of the 4 experimental diets. At 35 days of age, a slaughter test was performed to determine carcass traits, edible giblets, lymphoid organs and intestinal villi, microflora count and pH. Blood samples were taken and assayed to determine some serum blood parameters. Digestibility trials were conducted to determine nutrients digestibility for starter-grower experimental diets. At laying period, egg number, weight, mass and production as well as feed intake and conversion were recorded. At the end of the 90-day period, egg samples were taken and broken out to determine internal egg quality and analysis. From nutritional and economical point of view, it was observed that using malic acid at a level of 0.05 % in Japanese quail diets containing sub-optimal energy and protein levels helped in reducing microflara count, particularly pathogens and in turn, improving quail performance and immunity. This can alleviate the financial pressure on the farmer.