Evaluation of Using Different Levels and Sources of Oil in Growing Japanese Quail Diets

Abstract: A total of 750 one day old Japanese quail were randomly divided into ten dietary treatment containing 75 birds each. Each group contained 3 replicates, of 25 qualis. The control diet contained yellow corn as a main source of energy and containing 3 % poultry fat (PF), while linseed oil (LO), sunflower oil (sun O) and olive oil (OLO) were incorporating into the other diets; each of witch at a level of 1.5, 2 or 3 % of the diet, to replace proportionally on equivalent amount of the poultry fat. The experiment was terminated when birds were 5 weeks old, body weight, weight gain and feed intake were recorded. Feed conversion (kg feed / kg gain) was calculated. At the end of the experiment carcass characteristics were measured, blood samples were taken to determine some blood plasma constituents and some birds were kept for the digestibility experiments. The economic efficiency values were calculated. The data revealed that, bird fed diets contain different levels (1.5, 2 or 3%) from polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) which found in (LO, Sun O or OLO) recorded the highest (P<0.05) body weight, body gain and feed intake, but as a result of increased feed intake the feed conversion was not improved. Replacement of different levels of (LO, Sun O or OLO) from (PF) in control diet of Japanese quail improved the digestibility of all nutrients (OM, CP, EE and NFE) while not affected on CF. No significant effect was recorded on both edible giblets (gizzard, liver and heart) and offals (blood, feather, legs, head and viscera) percentage. It is worthy to not that either LO, Sun O or OLO at the tested levels improved dressing percentag