A review of quail nutrition research in India

Abstract

This is a review of the work undertaken to establish the nutrient requirements of, and feeding practices suitable for, quail under tropical and subtropical conditions. Three types of diet are recommended during commercial rearing as follows: a starter up to two weeks of age, a grower from three to five weeks and a layer mash for birds of more than six weeks of age. For optimum growth of quail broilers, a diet containing 27% protein with 11.72 MJ metabolisable energy (ME)/kg is recommended up to two weeks of age and a diet containing 24% protein with the same energy for birds from three to five weeks. The diet for layer type starter quail should contain 24% protein with an energy concentration of 11.72 MJ ME/kg. Dietary protein contents of 20% for growers and 19% for both layers and breeders appear adequate. Experiments with particular reference to lysine, methionine, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc were also conducted. Based on these trials and those of others, practical dietary concentrations of nutrients for various age groups and production purposes are proposed.