Quail Egg Yield and Quality of the Coturnix Coturnix Response to the Addition Level of Agave Inulin to the Drinking Water

Abstract

To assess the effect of agave inulin addition to drinking water, one hundred (65 days old) Coturnix coturnix japonica hens were divided randomly into four groups with five birds per cage. Twenty five birds were assigned to each of the following treatments: i) control; addition of agave inulin in the drinking water at; ii) 2.0% (w/w), iii) 4.0%; and iv) 6%. The feeding trial lasted for six weeks. Inulin increased (P<0.05) weekly egg production by 13.35% and 10.73%, respectively as compared to the control. Feed consumption was reduced as the agave inulin in the water increased (P<0.05), but the water intake augmented (P<0.05). Circulating glucose averaged 193.29 mg/mL and was not statistically affected by the agave inulin the addition to the drinking water (P>0.05). The egg weight was similar among treatments (average 12.70 g) and varied slightly with the inulin level (P=0.0537). The egg shell (percentage of the egg) was not influenced by the inulin. But, the calcium concentration in the eggshell of the present trial varied with the level on the agave inulin in the drinking water (P<0.05). The yolk and albumin weight or percentage of the egg were similar among treatments (P>0.05). Then, the agave inulin addition to the drinking water increases the egg yield of Japanese quails.