Effects of probiotic and prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) supplementation on performance, egg quality and hatchability in quail breeders

Abstract

Summary:This study was performed to investigate the effects of probiotic and prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) supplementation on performance, egg quality and hatchability in quail breeders. Four hundred and eighty, 18 wk old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were evenly distributed to 5 groups with four replicates containing 24 (18 female, 6 male) quail in each. Quail were fed either basal diet (control group) or 0.5 and 1 kg/ton probiotic and prebiotic supplemented basal diets (treatment groups) for 12 weeks. The live weight of animals, egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded, and feed efficiency was calculated. Egg quality, fertility and hatchability were also determined. Supplementation of 0.5 and 1 kg/ton prebiotic to diet increased the live weight (p≤0.001) and egg production (p≤0.01), respectively while 0.5 kg/ton probiotic increased egg production (p≤0.01). Egg shell thickness was improved by both supplements (p≤0.05). Neither probiotic nor prebiotic supplementation to the diets had significant effects on feed consumption, feed efficiency and egg weight, egg specific gravity, albumen index, yolk index, and Haugh unit. Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation slightly but not significantly increased percentage of fertile egg and hatchability. In conclusion, supplementation of probiotic and prebiotic (MOS) to the diet of quail breeders positively affected egg production and egg shell thickness.

Effects of mannan-oligosaccharides-supplemented diets on production performance of four close-bred flocks of Japanese quail breeders

“…The tendency of higher egg production was observed in the MOSsupplemented groups, but not in the control group; however, it was statistically not significant. Similar results were found by Tarasewicz et al (2004), Güçlü (2011), andBozkurt et al (2012), who reported that oligosaccharides-supplemented diet increased the capacity of egg production. Increased egg production by MOS supplementation might be due to an increase in the intestinal length of birds, reduction of pathogens, and increased beneficial bacteria, which ultimately enhanced the absorptive ability of the intestine (Chen et al, 2005).…”

“…Abd El-Samee et al (2012) observed that egg weight of quails was significantly higher in MOS-supplemented group than in the control. However, Bonos et al (2011) andGüçlü (2011) could not find significant effects of MOS on egg weight of birds.…”

“…Similar results have been reported in broilers by Midilli et al (2008) and in quails by Ghosh et al (2007). Güçlü (2011) reported that neither prebiotics nor probiotics showed significant effects on feed intake. Similarly, Bonos et al (2011) reported that MOS did not show a significant effect on the feed intake in laying Japanese quails.…”

“…Supplementation with MOS has a positive influence on bodyweight, FCR, egg production, egg weight, fertility, and hatchability in poultry (Güçlü, 2011;Abd El-Samee et al, 2012). To date, few data are available regarding the growth-promoting effects of MOS in Japanese quail breeders.…”

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“…When MOS was used as a food supplement, animal weight and survival ratio were significantly increased. (Savage & Zakrzewska, 1996 Murray & Ivey, 1997;Kaufhold, Hammon, & Blu m, 2000;Heinrichs, Jones, & Heinrichs, 2003;Sarıkaya & Küçük, 2009;Kahraman, Mızrak, Yenice, Atik, & Tunca, 2010;Güçlü, 2001, Yalçinkaya, Gungor, Bafialan, & Erdem, 2011. MOS has also been used in aquaculture by many authors.…”