The experimental work of the present study was carried
out at the Poultry Research Station, Poultry Production
Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University.
Chemical analyses were performed in the laboratories of the
same Department.
The experiment was conducted during the period from
March to April 2005. The effect of substituting yellow corn
by some by-products of medicinal and aromatic plants with
or without enzyme supplementation was studied on growing
Japanese quail performance. Fourteen dietary treatments
were designed to study the effects of substituting yellow corn
by some by-products of medicinal and aromatic plants with
or without enzyme supplementation. The by-products were
parsley, dill and peppermint.
Live body weight (LBW) and Live body weight gain
(LBWG): Quails fed diet 10 (parsley BP replacing 16% YC
+ 0.1% KD) had higher LBW at 38 days of age and LBWG
during the period from 10 to 38 days of age. Quails fed diet
13 (peppermint BP replacing 16% YC) had lower LBW at 38
days of age and LBWG during the period from 10 to 38 days
of age. Quails fed diet 11 (peppermint BP replacing 8% YC)
had heavier LBW at 45 days of age and LBWG during the
period from 10 to 45 days of age. Quails fed control diet had
lower LBW at 45 days of age and LBWG during the period
from 10 to 45 days of age.
Feed intake (FI): Quails fed diet 2(control + 0.1%
KD) had significantly lower FI during the periods from 10 to
38 and 10 to 45 days of age.
Feed conversion (FC), Crude protein conversion (CPC) and
Caloric conversion ratio (CCR): Quails fed diet 8 (parsley BP
replacing 8% YC + 0.1% KD) had the best FC and CCR values during
the period from 10 to 38 days of age, quails fed diet 2 (control + 0.1%
KD) had the best CPC value during the same period (10 to 38 days of
age). Quails fed diet 2 (control + 0.1% KD) had the best FC, CPC and
CCR values during the period from 10 to 45 days of age, followed by
those fed diet 14 (peppermint BP replacing16%YC+0.1% KD) during
the same period. Quails fed diet 5 (dill BP replacing 16% YC) had the
worst FC, CPC and CCR values during the periods from 10 to 38 and
10 to 45 days.
Performance index (PI): Quails fed diet 8 (parsley BP
replacing 8% YC + 0.1% KD) had significantly higher PI
during period from 10 to 38 days of age. Quails fed diet 2
(control + 0.1% KD) had significantly higher PI value during
the period from 10 to 45 days of age.
Slaughter parameters: Quails fed diet 13 (peppermint
BP replacing 16% YC) and 14 (peppermint BP replacing 8%
YC+ 0.1% KD) had significantly higher gizzard% and total
giblets%.
Serum constituents: Quails fed diet 10 (parsley BP
replacing 16% YC+ 0.1% KD) had significantly higher
serum total protein and globulin.
Chemical composition of Japanese quail meat: The
highest moisture and protein (the lowest fat %) value was
observed for quails fed diet 13 (peppermint BP replacing 8%
YC), while those fed diet 2 (control + 0.1% KD) had the
highest fat % (and consequently the lowest moisture and
protein %).
Mortality rate: Mortality was zero% in quails fed diet
3 (dill BP replacing 8% YC), 4 (dill BP replacing 8% YC +
0.1% KD), 5 (dill BP replacing 16% YC), 8 (parsley BP
replacing 8% YC + 0.1% KD) and 14 (peppermint BP
replacing 8% YC+ 0.1% KD). However quails fed diet 9
(parsley BP replacing 16% YC) had the highest mortality
rate being 2.9%. The percentage of mortality was 1.5% in
quails fed the other diets.
Economical efficiency (EEf): Quails fed diet 9
(parsley BP replacing 16% YC) gave the best economical
and relative efficiency then quails fed diet 8 (parsley BP
replacing 8% YC + 0.1% KD), and followed by those fed
diet 10 (parsley BP replacing 16% YC+ 0.1% KD) during
the period from 10 to 38 days of age. It can be concluded that
MAPB can be used instead of YC in Japanese quail feeds at
a level to substitute up to 16% of YC. The diet of choice is
that containing parsley followed by peppermint then dill.