Evaluation of Egg Quality Traits of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Fed Enzyme Supplemented Diets Containing Poultry Offal Meal

The effects of substitution of poultry offal meal (POM) for soybean meal (SBM) and the effect of supplementation of POM by a mixture of solid state fermentation enzymes (SSF) and Lipase on egg quality traits of Japanese quails were studied in two experiments. Unsexed Japanese quails (13 days old; N=200) were randomly assigned to twenty groups of ten birds for each experiment. In experiment 1, POM was incorporated at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% in the diets to assess the maximum inclusion level of POM. In Experiment 2, the egg quality of Japanese quails fed diets containing 0, 5 and 10% POM was investigated. Enzyme effect was tested at 5 and 10% POM. The major egg quality traits and sensory qualities were assessed. Feeding POM at 10% rate significantly (P<0.05) lowered shell ratio, egg weights and unit surface shell weight (USSW) by 4.6, 4.2 and 5.6% respectively compared to the control diet. However, POM could be incorporated up to 10% with no detrimental effects on internal quality traits and consumer’s preference. Experiment 1 concluded that, 2.5% POM is the best in terms of external quality traits. Enzyme supplementation did not affect egg quality traits except for the improvement of albumen index by 5.9% at 10% POM.

Key words: Dietary enzymes; Egg quality; Japanese quails; Poultry offal meal; Soybean meal

DOI: 10.4038/tare.v12i2.2797

Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 12(2): 2009 pp.89-96