Millet and Sorghum as Possible Dietary Energy Sources in the Diet of Japanese Quails

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of millet and sorghum as alternatives to maize. on performance and egg production parameters of quails. Three hundred (300) day old quails were sourced form National Veterinary Institute Jos. The birds were brooded for two weeks and randomly allotted to three (3) different energy sources i.e. maize, millet and sorghum designated as treatment 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The birds were fed with experimental diets for six months. Results showed daily feed intake (68.35-79.86), daily weight gain (3.41-3.43) and feed conversion ratio (3.33-3.91) were not affected by the different energy sources (P>0.05). Most of the carcass parameters were statistically similar (P>0.05). The hen day egg production (80.21-84.51) and egg production parameters were not affected by the alternative energy sources (P>0.05), similarly hematological parameters showed that packed cell volume (50.20-56.00), red blood cells (4.72-5.21) and hemoglobin (16.98-18.38) were statistically similar (P>0.05). The serum biochemical parameters showed that total protein (36.20-39.80), globulins (11.60-14.44), total protein (36.20-39.80), glucose (12.68-14.82), cholesterol (5.36-6.78), urea (17.80-20.00) and ASAT (1.98-2.08) were not affected by the different energy sources (P>0.05). I It can be concluded that millet and sorghum can be alternative energy sources in quail production in semi-arid environment of Gashua Yobe state with reduction in cost of production.