LAYING PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF QUAIL COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA FED SNAILMEAL-ENRICHED COMMERCIAL LAYERS DIET
LAYING PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF QUAIL COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA FED SNAILMEAL-ENRICHED COMMERCIAL LAYERS DIET
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Date
2000-10
Authors
GADZAMA, MADU IBRAHIM KATSALLAH
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Three experimental diets, formulated using different levels of inclusion of whole
snail meal, Limicolaria sp were fed to laying Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica,
for 56 days. This was done to determine the influence of the different diets on egg
production and egg quality characteristics. Commercial layers mash served as the control
diet.
Chemical analysis showed that the whole snail meal contained calcium (30.40%),
ash( 45.88% ) and protein( 16.08%). The control diet (17.5% CP) had the highest values
of phosphorus, moisture, nitrogen-free extract, organic matter and metabolizable energy.
These components varied inversely with increase in quantity of whole snail meal; diet 4
(23.5% CP) had the lowest values and diets 2 (19.5% CP) and 3 (21.5% CP) had
intermediate values.
All the four treatment diets contained adequate energy and protein that supported
egg production. The control diet gave the best feed conversion with lowest egg weight,
egg shell thickness and Haugh unit, while diet 2 with the poorest feed conversion gave
the highest egg number and yolk index. Eggs in diet 3 had the highest weight. Diet 4 had
the lowest egg number and highest values of egg shell thickness and Haugh unit. The
feed conversion and shape index were not influenced by the treatment diets.
This study shows that upto 2.0% (CP) whole snail meal may be included in
17.5 % (CP) layers diets of quails for higher egg production and up to 6.0% (CP) for
improved egg weight and Haugh unit score.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ZOOLOGY
Keywords
LAYING,, PERFORMANCE,, EGG QUALITY,, QUAIL,, COTURNIX, COTURNIX JAPONICA, FED SNAIL-MEAL-ENRICHED,, COMMERCIAL,, LAYERS,, DIET