Dietary Protein, Lysine And Methionine Requirement Of Layer Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) In Tropics

Title : DIETARY PROTEIN, LYSINE AND METHIONINE REQUIREMENT OF LAYER JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix japonica) IN TROPICS Name of the Student : K.SANGILIMADAN Degree for which submitted : Ph.D., in Poultry Science Name of the chairperson : Dr.R. ASHA RAJINI, Ph.D., Professor Department of Poultry Science Madras Veterinary College Chennai 600 007 College : Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-7 Year and University : 2010 Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-51 Two biological experiments were conducted using Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) from day old to thirty weeks of age to identifiy the dietary protein, lysine and methionine requirement of layer Japanese quail reared in cages under a hot and humid tropical climate. In the first experiment 1200 quail chicks were fed with two levels of dietary protein 24 and 26 per cent (0-3 weeks) each of these were further divided into two groups providing 20 and 22 per cent dietary protein (4 to 6 weeks). At six weeks of age 480 layer quails were randomly selected and 40 birds with two replicates in each treatment were provided with three levels of dietary protein of 16, 19 and 22 per cent. The total numbers of treatments were twelve. The best protein combination was identified from the first experiment to be applied to the next experiment. In the second experiment 468 layer quails were randomly selected from 1200 grower Japanese quails and placed under nine dietary combinations of 0.95, 1.05, 1.15 dietary lysine with 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45 per cent methionine respectively. Higher dietary protein levels of 26 per cent recorded significantly (P<0.05) better body weight gain and feed efficiency. Hen day and hen housed egg production were significantly influenced by dietary protein combinations. The best dietary protein combination of 26 / 20 / 22 followed by 24 / 20 / 19 recorded higher hen day and hen housed egg production. The same combinations again recorded the best feed efficiency per dozen egg and kilogram egg mass. Dietary protein combinations did not influence feed consumption. Japanese quails aged 11 to 18 weeks recorded significantly (P<0.01) higher hen day and hen housed egg production and better feed efficiency. Dietary protein combinations with 16 per cent protein levels performed very poorly in all the production parameters. Birds provided with higher protein level of 26 / 22 / 22, 26 / 20 / 22 and 24/22/22 recorded heavier egg weights. Older Japanese quails laid significantly (P<0.01) heavier eggs. None of the protein combination had any significant effect on shape index, specific gravity of eggs and internal egg quality characteristics. However, age had played a significant (P<0.01) role on all of the external egg quality characteristics. Per cent shell was significantly (P<0.01) influenced by dietary protein combinations. The protein combination of 24/20/19 recorded the lowest feed cost for 100 table eggs and the best egg feed price ratio. Among the various combinations of dietary lysine and methionine studied, the amino acid combination of 1.15 / 0.40 recorded the highest hen day egg production of (73.42 ± 1.28) and significantly (P<0.01) the highest hen housed egg production (68.94 ± 1.21). Among the lysine and methionine combinations that gave significantly (P<0.01) the best feed efficiency per dozen eggs, 1.05/0.40 and 1.15/0.40 recorded the best feed efficiency. The best feed efficiency per kilogram egg mass was recorded by four dietary lysine and methionine combinations among these the best combination was 1.15/0.40 (3.75±0.24). Egg weight was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the 0.45 per cent methionine group (12.57 ± 0.04). Older birds laid heavier eggs. Young Japanese quails fed with 0.35 or 0.40 dietary methionine laid eggs with significantly (P<0.01) higher specific gravity. The lowest feed cost per hundred table eggs was recorded by Japanese quails fed with 1.15/0.45 dietary lysine and methionine, this group also recorded a better egg feed price ratio.