THE EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TIGER NUT (Cyperus esculentus L) SEED MEAL ON CARCASS AND ORGAN WEIGHTS CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE QUAILS (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

An investigation into the replacement value of tiger nut seed meal as substitute for maize in diets of Japanese quail was studied. Four different diets were formulated such that tiger nut replaced maize at 0% (T), 25% (T2). 50% (T) and 75% (T) respectively in a Completely Randomized Design. The control diet (T) contained no tiger nut. Ninety six day-old Japanese quails were used for the experiment to determine the effect of the test diets on carcass and organ weights characteristics in a 49-days trial. The quail chicks were arranged into the 4 dietary treatments, each containing 3 replicates with 24 birds per dietary treatment and 8 birds per replicate. Result indicated that the carcass cut parts showed that liveweight, drumstick, thigh, shank, wings, head size and anus varied due to the influence of the dietary treatments, whereas, dressed weight, back, breast and neck were not affected by the diets. Drumstick and anal weights were reduced, whereas, thigh and head size increased with an increase in the level of tiger nut. The interaction of energy and protein levels of the diets did not affect dressed weight contrary to some previous findings. T; performed better in shank length (1.81%) and dressed weight (84.92% ). T3 was moderate in most performances. T. was least in shank (1.59%) and wing weights (6.99%). The organ proportions was influenced by the diets in liver/spleen, gizzard and intestinal weights, but showed no influence in kidney, heart and proventriculus weights. The dressed percent was highest in T2 (84.92%). The liver weight was most significant in T2 (3.50 % lwt). Gizzard size was highest in T3 (4.67%) compared to the control (3.27%) and increases with high fiber diet. The gizzard and liver weights variation were attributed to the differences in the influence of dietary energy and protein interaction as well as fiber digestibility. The high value of the liver in T2 favoured the internal organs. Based on the carcass cut parts and organ proportions, the 25 % level of inclusion of tiger nut is recommended for replacing maize.