LAYING PERFORMANCE OF QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix) FED DIETS FORMULATED BASED ON CRUDE PROTEIN RESTRICTION

Abstract

The 60-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of varying dietary crude protein (CP) levels (22, 21, 20, 19, 18%) on the laying performance of quails. Proximate composition of diets, egg production, egg quality parameters, and income over feed cost were measured to evaluate the effects of dietary protein restriction. For the feeding trial, a total of 150 quails were randomly assigned in five treatments following Completely Randomized Design (CRD); each treatment had three replications with 10 quails per replicate. The experimental treatments were: basal diet (BD) containing 20% CP (recommended/standard level), BD containing 22% and 21% (higher levels), and BD containing 19% and 18% (lower levels). Proximate analysis on the diet used indicated the same level of energy at 2900 ME kcal/kg. Feed offered was fixed at 30g/bird/day. Results of the study showed that quail layers given diets containing 22% CP and 18% CP had higher final weight (P<0.01). No differences were observed on egg production using different levels of CP ranging from 18% up to 22%. Improved yolk pigmentation (P<0.01) was observed using quail feed containing 18% CP. Numerically, higher income over feed cost (Php 16.98/quail) was attained from quail layer fed with 19% CP, beyond the recommended rate of 20% CP.