ABSTRACT
Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, haematological profile, egg production parameters, egg quality characteristics and economic advantage of Japanese quails fed diets containing autoclaved castor seed cake (CSC) in maize/sorghum based diet (MSBD) with enzyme supplementation in the feeding trials. Three hundred and fifty seven (357) two weeks old quail chicks (average weight of 30.00g) were allocated to seven dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment contained 51 chicks with three replicates of 17 birds per pen in the first trial for 28 days. Treatment 1 (T1) serves as the control containing maize based diet (MBD), T2 and T3 contain maize, CSC and enzyme respectively, T4 contains MSBD with CSC, T5 contains MSBD with CSC and enzyme while T6 and T7 contain sorghum and CBC and sorghum and CSC with enzyme respectively for both starter/grower and laying phase. The diets were iso- nitrogenous (25%CP) and iso-caloric (2800 ME Kcal/Kg). Water and feed were given ad libitum. The result of the growth performance indicates that the final body weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain, were significantiy (P<0.05) higher in the control group (T1) compared to T2, T3, T4, T6 and T7 but similar to T5. The total feed intake and the daily feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 compared to all other treatments. The results of the haematological parameters showed that the pack cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 compared to T1, T4 and T7 but similar to T2, T5 and T6. The red blood cells (RBC) was significantly p<0.05) higher in T2 compared to T4 but similar to that other treatments. The white blood cells (WBC) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T4 compared to T1, T2, T6 and T7 this is similar to T3 and T5. The result of the carcass evaluation indicates that the carcass weight (CW) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T1 compared to all other treatments but similar to T7. The dressing percentage was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T7 compared to T2, T4, T5 and T6 but similar to T1 and T3. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences in thigh, breast, gizzard, and lungs across the treatments. The results on growth performance, haematology, and carcass characteristics indicated that quails on autoclaved castor seed cake in a maize and sorghum based diets with vegpro supplementation (T5) were similar to those on the control diet (T1). Two hundred and ten (210) six weeks old quails at the point of lay were allocated to seven dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) for the second trial. Each treatment contained 30 quail hens with three replicates of 10 quail hens per pen which lasted for 6-20 weeks. The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous (22%CP) and iso- caloric (2700 Kcal/Kg. Water and feed were given ad libitum. The result of egg production parameters indicated significant difference (P<0.05) in egg production parameters measured. Hen-day egg production, hen housed egg production and peak egg production of quail birds fed 10% CSC + 46.51 sorghum without enzyme (T6) performed significantly (P< 0.05) better compared to T2, T3 , T4, T5 and T7 but is similar to T1. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) in Yolk index; Yolk %, Yolk height, albumen%, albumen height, shell weights and shell thickness across the treatments. Hence utilization of CSC at 10% inclusion in sorghum based diet without enzyme (T6) in egg laying phase result in improved egg production at the least cost.
