EGG PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE QUAILS AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY ASPILIA AFRICANA LEAF MEAL

Abstract

This study assessed Aspilia africana leaf meal (AaLM) as potential feed additive in laying quails. 150 laying quails were randomly assigned to five experimental diets which contained AaLM at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% for a period of twelve weeks. Three replicates of 10 birds per replicate were housed per pen in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. One week acclimatization period was permitted prior to egg collection. Data were collected on egg production, feed intake, egg weight, egg shell thickness, yolk colour, % cracked or broken eggs and mortality. Percentages of albumen, yolk and shell to egg weight were calculated. Result revealed that there were significant (P<0.01; 0.001) influences of dietary AaLM supplementations on the egg characteristics of laying quails. Compared to the control, as level of AaLM supplementation increased, egg number, hen day production, % albumen and yolk weights and yolk colour were improved. Shell thickness increased up to 5% AaLM supplementation and thereafter as the level of Aspilia africana leaf increased to 10%, egg shell became thinner. Increasing AaLM supplementation also resulted to significant (P<0.01) decreases in egg size, % crack and % shell weight than values obtained from quails on control-fed diet. These results indicated that up to 5% Aspilia africana leaf meal supplementation could boost the egg production potentials and egg quality of laying quails