Effects of replacing maize meal with rumen filtrate-fermented cassava meal on growth and egg production performance in Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica)

摘要

This study evaluated the effects of replacing maize in quail diets with graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented cassava meal (FCM) on growth and egg production performance. Cassava meal (CM) was mixed with dried layera€?s manure at 75 g/kg CM. This mixture was thoroughly mixed with freshly collected rumen filtrate (1 L/5 kg CM), and fermented in sealed bags for 14 days. It was then sun-dried and incorporated in grower/finisher diets at 0, 50, 75 and 100%. Then, 84-three weeks-old Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica) were divided into four groups that were randomly assigned to 0, 50, 75 and 100% FCM grower/layers diets. The diets and drinking water were supplied to birds ad libitum until 56 days of age. Daily feed consumption, weekly body weights, weight gains, feed conversion ratios (FCR), hen day, and egg weights were monitored. Replacing maize with FCM in quail diets had significant effect on all the parameters assessed. Quails fed diets with 75% FCM were superior (p<0.05) for body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and egg weights. However, birds fed control diets had higher (p<0.05) hen-day, but lower (p<0.05) in egg weights. Complete replacement of maize with FCM (100%) had similar (p>0.05) effect on feed intake, body weight, and weight gain, as compared to those of fed control diets. Thus, replacing maize with FCM had no deleterious effects on growth performance, but depressed hen-day. However, better growth performance was obtained when maize was replaced at 75% FCM.