Potential of Full-Fat Silkworm-Based Diets for Laying Quails: Performance and Egg Physical Quality

Abstract

The present research was conducted to determine the optimal inclusion level of full-fat silkworm chrysalis meal (SWM) into laying quails’ diets, focusing on performance traits and egg physical quality. A total of 240 31-day-old female Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four dietary groups (12 replicates/treatment; 5 quails/replicate); quails were initially fed a standard commercial diet for pullets until 63 days of age. When oviposition started, the experimental groups received the following diets: a conventional corn and soybean-based diet (control diet—C) and three other diets, including 4%, 8%, or 12% of full-fat SWM (SWM4, SWM8, SWM12, respectively). Experimental diets were provided until quails reached 119 days of age. Birds displayed satisfactory productive performance throughout the trial. SWM12 and SWM8 had higher (p < 0.001) egg production but also a higher feed conversion ratio compared to C. At the end of the trial, the eggs edible portion increased, and shell weight decreased with increasing the SWM dietary inclusion level (p < 0.001). At the same time, SWM12 displayed an increase in albumen pH (p < 0.05), even though in the normal range for quail egg. Overall, full-fat SWM (up to 12%) can be considered a promising feed ingredient for laying quails, although higher inclusion levels (>8%) require special attention because SWM also contains anti-nutritional factors.

Live yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae: a promising nutritional enrichment for laying quails

“…Coherently to previous research on eggs obtained from quails fed with different insect sources ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ; Singh et al, 2023 ), also in the present trial no particular effects linked to the dietary treatment on eggs’ shelf-life were observed. The pH values of quail eggs (average: 8.66) at d 0 of shelf-life are typical for this species ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ) and are indicative of freshness.…”

“…The laying quails were divided into 2 experimental groups: the first group received the Control diet in mash form, whereas the second group received the Control diet, daily supplemented with live TM larvae (TM10: 10% of the expected daily feed intake, which was calculated based on data from previous trials ( Dalle Zotte et al, 2019 ; Singh et al, 2023 ) on laying quails of the same age). The 8-wk-old live TM larvae were provided by INEF - Insect Novel Ecologic Food (Via Fossetta, 23, 35017 Piombino Dese, Padova, Italy).…”

Differential diagnosis of Eimeria species in farmed Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

“…Sampling was performed on Japanese quails subjected to parasitological examinations as part of a study designed to evaluate the effects of different diets on laying quail performance (the study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Padova, Protocol n. EC2018/87), whose farming specifications can be found in the study by Singh et al (2023) . From March to May 2021, 12 pools contents both from caeca and cloaca were separately collected from a total of 240 laying quails, stored at +4°C and subjected to parasitological analyses within 24 h.…”