Effects of Different Manganase Sources and Levels in the Diets on the Performance, Reproductive Characteristics and Some Blood Parameters of Breeder Japanese Quail

Abstract

An experiment with breeder Japanese quails was conducted to determine the effects of different manganese (Mn) sources and levels in diet on the performance, reproductive characteristics and blood constituents during for five-28 day periods. In the experiment, a total of three hundred and sixty quails (female:male ratio, 2:1) at seven weeks of age was fed on diets containing 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 mg kg -1 Mn levels from inorganic (MnSO 4 .H 2 O) or organic (Mn-amino acid chelate, Glycinoplex-Mn) source. Ten treatments combination of 2 Mn source and 5 Mn levels in 2X5 factorial arrangement were used with six replicate consisting of 4 female and 2 male quails each. The diets in mash form and water were given as adlibitum and 16 hours ligthting was provided in a day. In the experiment, final body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), livability, hen day egg production (EP), egg weight (EW) and egg mass (EM), feed consumption (FC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), chick weights at hatching, fertility, hatchability of eggs set (%), hatchability of fertile eggs (%), embryonic mortalities and glucose, total cholesterol and protein, albumin, BUN, GGT, SGOT, SGPT, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content of blood serum were measured. Dietary Mn source and levels as the main factor did not significantly affect the performance and reproductive traits which was measured in the experiment. Nevertheless the interaction between source and levels of Mn had a significant effect on average EW and chick weights at hatching over the experimental period. Egg weight of quails fed diet with 60 mg kg -1 Mn from inorganic form was higher (P<0.01) than those of quails fed with 0, 180 and 240 mg kg -1 Mn from inorganic and 0, 60, and 240 mg kg -1 Mn from organic form, again chick weights at hatching of quails fed diet with 60 mg kg -1 inorganic Mn, was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with quails fed with all other levels of inorganic and organic Mn. In the experiment, while dietary Mn levels do not significantly affect any blood parameters, the serum glucose level of the quails fed with organic Mn was significantly higher than that of the quails fed with inorganic Mn and also serum phosphorus level of the quails fed with inorganic Mn was higher than that of the quails fed with organic Mn (P<0.01). The interaction between source and levels of Mn significantly affected the total protein, albumin and calcium levels of blood serum (P<0.05). These parameters were found to be higher in quail fed diets containing 60 mg kg -1 Mn in inorganic form than quails with some other diets. These results have shown that addition of 60 mg kg -1 Mn in inorganic form to breeder quail diets (containing 21.56 mg kg -1 Mn, found in analysis) based on corn + soybean meal may be beneficial.