Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Egypt.
2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fayoum governorate, Egypt
3
Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
10.21608/ejnf.2024.394255
Abstract
Th
he experimental work was conducted in a Poultry Research Station, El-Azab, Fayoum, Egypt, to study the dietary effects of supplementing different non-chloride (Cl) sodium (Na) sources and levels with different levels of dietary protein on the productive and reproductive performance of laying Japanese quail. The experiment was designed in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with crude protein (CP) level, type and level of non-chloride Na addition as main effects. Corn-soybean meal basal diets were formulated with two CP levels (20 and 18%), two types of non-chloride Na addition (sodium sulfate, Na2SO4 and sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3) and three levels of non-chloride Na addition% (0.00, 0.05 and 0.10%). According to the nutrient requirements of NRC (1994), the minimum dietary Na levels of all treatments groups were 0.15, and the Cl level of all diets were set to be 0.25% which were provided by supplemental level of sodium chloride (NaCl) at 0.35% to satisfy nutrient requirements. Then raising the Na level above the minimum requirement by adding Na2SO4 or NaHCO3. These diets were fed from 39 to 88 days. The dietary amino acid levels were adjusted by adding DL-methionine and L-lysine-HCl. Results obtained can be summarized in the subsequent: Quails fed diet containing 18% CP had higher values of egg number, egg production% and the best crude protein conversion value. Quails fed diet containing NaHCO3 had significantly the best values of feed conversion ratio and caloric efficiency ratio. Quails fed diet containing 18% CP supplemented with 0.05% Na from Na2SO4 at dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) 208.4 mEq/kg had higher values of egg weight (g) and yolk color. Quails fed diet containing 20% CP supplemented with 0.05% Na from NaHCO3 at DEB 233.8 mEq/kg or 18% CP supplemented with 0.05% Na from Na2SO4 at DEB 208.4 mEq/kg had higher values of yolk index%. Quails fed diet containing 18 CP% had higher value of hatchability (lower value of average chick weight (g) and late embryonic mortality%) and those fed diet containing 20% CP had higher value of average chick weight (g) and late embryonic mortality%. Quails fed diet containing 0.00% non-chloride Na had significantly higher value of early embryonic mortality% (lowest hatchability%), while, those fed diet containing 0.10% non-chloride Na had significantly higher value of hatchability% (lower value of early embryonic mortality%). Quails fed diet containing 20% CP supplemented with 0.05% Na from Na2SO4 had higher value of fertility%. Quails fed diet containing 18% CP supplemented with 0.10% Na from NaHCO3 at DEB 231.0 mEq/kg had higher value of hatchability% (lower values of average chick weight (g) and early embryonic mortality%). Generally, all of the dietary treatments significantly surpassed the control in hatchability. While, quails fed diet containing 18% CP at DEB 187.4 mEq/kg with 0.00% Na2SO4 or NaHCO3 had lower values of early and late embryonic mortality%. Values of economical and relative efficiency during the laying period (from 46 to 88 days) were improved in quails fed all experimental diets except those fed diet containing 20% CP plus any level of Na2SO4 supplementation, as compared with those fed the control and other treatments. Hens fed diet containing 18% CP supplemented with 0.10% Na from NaHCO3 at DEB 231.0 mEq/kg had the best economical and relative efficiency values, followed by hens fed diet containing 18% CP supplemented with 0.10% Na from Na2SO4 at DEB 230.7 mEq/kg, then hens fed diet containing 18% CP at DEB 187.4 mEq/kg, followed by hens fed diet containing 18% CP supplemented with 0.05% Na from NaHCO3 at DEB 208.6 mEq/kg.
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