EFFECT OF VARYING DIETARY ENERGY LEVELS ON PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE QUAILS CHICKENS (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA)

Abstract

Performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) was tested using different energy levels. Total of four hundred and fifty quail birds were randomly allotted to five different dietary treatments in a completely randomized design arrangement. The birds were further divided into three replicates per each treatment with 30 birds per replicate. Each treatment was assigned to one of the following test diets, diet 1: 2800kcal/kg ME, diet 2: 2900kcal/kg ME, diet 3: 3000kcal/kg ME, diet 4: 3100kcal/kg ME and diet 5: 3200kcal/kg ME. The Total feed intake of birds fed diet 1, 2 and 4 were significantly (P< 0.05) higher than birds fed 3 and 5. Dietary energy levels significantly (P<0.05) affected feed intake, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio across the dietary energy levels. An increase in metabolizable energy from 2800kcal/kg ME to 3200kcal/kg ME resulted in linear decrease in weight gain and feed intake. The live weight, breast weight, back weight, and intestinal length were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the energy levels. The haemoglobin, PCV, MCHC, MCV, Albumin and Cholesterol were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the energy levels. RBC, MCH, Globulin and Total protein were significantly (P<0.05) affected by energy levels.