Protein requirement of Japanese quail (coturnix corturnix japonica) chicks in Nigeria

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of varying dietary levels of protein on performance of Japanese quail chicks. Six iso-caloric (2953-3078 kcal/kg, ME) diets were formulated to contain crude protein (CP) at 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28% levels, respectively. Each of the dietary treatment was replicated three times with sixty (60) quail chicks per replicate. A total of 1080 day-old unsexed quail chicks were used for the study and distributed using completely randomized design. The experiment lasted 42 days during which data were collected. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein intake differ significantly (P<0.05) due to dietary treatments. Final live weight and cost per gain were not significantly (P>0.05) different across dietary treatments. Age at first egg and average weight of eggs at point of lay differed significantly (P<0.05) across dietary treatments. The haematological parameters (Total protein, haemoglobin, albumen and red blood cell) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the dietary protein levels. Carcass weight, dressing percentage, prime cuts and the weight of major organs expressed as percentage of the live weight were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. It was concluded that Japanese quail chicks required up to 26% level of dietary protein for optimum performance.