S. Faruque
Poultry Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh.
H. Khatun
Poultry Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh.
M.S. Islam
Poultry Production Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh.
S.M.A. Rahman
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh -2202.
Protein and energy level, Dhakai quail, Growth performance, Carcass characteristics
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka
Animal Health and Management
The study was conducted during March to April, 2008 in order to investigate the optimum level of dietary protein and energy on the production performance and carcass characteristics of Dhakai quail. A feeding trial was conducted for a period of 5 weeks with 128 day - old chicks of Dhakai quail collected from internal hatchery of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka. The chicks were arranged according to a 4 × 2 factorial (4 protein levels; 20, 22, 24 and 26% and 2 energy levels; 2800 and 2900 kcal ME/kg), and allocated into eight dietary treatment combinations. The treatment combinations were designated as D1 (CP 20 ME 2800 ), D2 (CP 20 ME 2900 ), D3 (CP 22 ME 2800 ), D4 (CP 22 ME 2900 ), D5 (P 24 ME 2800 ), D6 (P24 ME2900 ), D7 (P 26 ME 2800 ) and D8 (P 26 ME 2900 ). There were 16 chicks per treatment combination. Each treatment combination had 2 replications. The ingredient used to prepare diet were maize, wheat, rice polish, soya bean meal, protein concentrates, limestone (calcium carbonate) and synthetic methionine and lysine. The ingredients were purchased from the local feed company. A premix containing trace minerals and vitamins was mixed with all diets. Further, common salt and DCP was added to the diets as per requirements. The chicks under the experiment were fed mash feed ad libitum during the entire trial period. Feeding trial was conducted for a period of 5 weeks. Initial body weight of day old chicks was recorded immediately before the start of the trial and then weekly thereafter. All birds were weighed individually, before supplying morning feed and water. The feed residues were collected and weighed on the following morning to calculate the actual feed intakes. Feed intake including left over was recorded daily and was calculated from the difference between the feed supplied and it’s left over. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded for the whole period as total feed intake (g) per weight gain (g). Temperature and humidity (%) were recorded three times a day; in the morning (0900h), noon (1300h) and evening (1700h). Health status of birds was monitored everyday and mortality of birds was recorded, if any. At 5 weeks of age, two birds from each treatment (out of 8) were slaughtered to analyze the meat yield traits. All birds to be slaughtered were kept off feed overnight but drinking water was provided ad libitum at all times. Birds were slaughtered following ‘halal’ method by severing the jugular vein and allowed to bleed completely and then plucked and weighed to determine blood and feather losses. Data on pre - slaughter live weight, blood loss weight, eviscerated weight, shank length and weight, neck length and weight, head weight, breast meat weight, drumstick weight and length, thigh bone length and weight, digestive tract weight, gizzard weight, liver weight, spleen weight, heart weight, back and breast bone weight, wing bone length and weight, Giblet and skin weight were recorded. Morphological characteristics such as length of neck, thigh, drumstick, shank and wing were recorded by a measuring scale. All data were analyzed by 4 × 2 factorial using the procedure of SPSS 10 for Windows. Means were compared for the significant differences using Duncans Multiple Range Test. Correlation and regression analyses were done.
Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 19(1-2): 1-9, Jan-Dec 2012, ISSN: 1022-3851
Journal