Effects of Copper Sulfate on Productive, Reproductive Performance and Blood Constituents of Laying Japanese Quail Fed Optimal and Sub-Optimal Protein

Abstract: A (3X3) factorial design experiment was conducted to study the effect of three levels of crude protein (16, 18 and 20%) and three levels of copper sulfate (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet) as a growth promoter on productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, blood serum constituents and economical efficiency of laying quail hens through 8 weeks. A total number of 270 hens and 135 males of Japanese quail at 8 weeks of age with nearly equal body weight and average rate of laying were randomly divided into 9 groups (30 hens and 15 males each). Each group of birds was sub divided into 3 replicates (10 hens and 5 males) and each replicate was housed in one wire cage. The results showed that the layer body weights at 12 or 16 weeks and weight gain at 12-16 and 8-16 weeks of age were significantly increased with increasing crude protein level from 16-18 or 20%, while there were no significant differences between the groups fed 18 and 20 % crude protein throughout the experimental intervals and the whole period. Egg number, rate of laying and egg mass of laying quail hens increased with increasing crude protein at levels 16-18 or 20 % (except at 12-16 week of age), while insignificant differences were found between the groups fed 18 and 20 % crude protein throughout the experimental intervals and the whole period. Addition of copper sulfate at levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg to laying quail diets significantly improved egg number, rate of laying, egg mass and feed conversion ratio except at 8-12 weeks of age as compared with group non