EFFECT OF SOME FEED ADDITIVES ON PERFORMANCE OF LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL : 1- EFFECT OF MARGORAM LEAVES MEAL AS A FEED ADDITIVE IN LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL DIETS | ||||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||||
| Article 1, Volume 32, Issue 7, July 2007, Page 5167-5179 PDF (744.55 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2007.219665 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| k. Abd EI-Galil, | ||||
| Animal and Poultry Nutrition Dept., Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| A total number of 180 Japanese quail (120 females and 60 males) at 4 weeks of age were used in an experiment lasted 22 weeks. Experimental Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided randomly into four equal experimental groups (30 females in each group). The first group was fed the basal diet as control,, while the other three groups were feed additive the Margoram leaves meal (MLM).Margoram leaves meal was added to the control diet at level of 0.5,1.0 or 1.5 g/kg diet, respectively. The main objective of the present work was to present study was undertaken to establish the utilization of Margoram as medical herbal feed additives in laying Japanese quail diets and their effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility and economic efficiency. The experimental diets were isocaloric (2900 kcal ME/kg), isonitrogenous (20% CP) and isofibrous. Results obtained could be summarized as follows The final live body weight and body weight change during the whole experimental period varied significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing MLM levels. The highest live body weight and body weight gain were recorded by using 1.5 and followed by 1 g/kg, while those fed control diet recorded the lowest ones. The level of 1g/kg MLM recorded the best values (P<0.05) of feed conversion ratio (g feed/g gain), while the control diet recorded the worst feed conversion ratio. Age at sexual maturity and first egg weight recorded a non-significant difference among groups, while egg weight, egg number and egg mass during the whole experimental period recorded a significant difference (P<0.05) among groups. It is worthy noting that feed intake (g/day) increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing MLM levels, however 1.5 g/kg MLM recorded the highest one. Feed conversion ratio (g feed /g egg mass) revealed significantly (P<0.05) increased with increasing of MLM level in diet, however 1.00 g/kg MLM recorded the best feed conversion ratio, while the control diet recorded the worst ones. Hatchability percentage recorded a non-significant difference among groups. Albumen, yolk index and egg shape percentage showed significant (P<0.05) increase among the experimental groups, while yolk % and shell thickness (mm) showed a non-significant decrease between groups. Digestibility coefficients of OM, CP, CF, EE, NFE and the nutritive values expressed as DCP, TDN % and ME (kcal/kg) were significantly varied (P<0.05) among the different experimental groups. Level of 1 g/kg MLM group showed the best net return as well as the highest value of economic efficiency among experimental groups. From the nutritional and economical efficiency stand points of view, it could be concluded that, using dietary medical herbal such as Margoram leaves meal (Origanum majorana) at 1 g/kg of the diet could improved productive performance and economical efficiency of laying Japanese quail. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Quail; Margoram leaves meal; productive performance; egg quality; digestibility and economical efficiency | ||||
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