Effects of Gmelina arborea, Roxb leaf meal on egg characteristics of Coturnix coturnix japonica, Temmick

Abstract

A thirty-six weeks feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of inclusion of varying levels of Gmelina arborea on egg characteristics, using two (2) weeks old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Ninety-six birds were allocated to four dietary treatment groups with three (3) replicates of eight (8) birds each in a completely randomized design comprising of control (C) containing 0 g/kg; T1, 50 g/kg; T2, 100 g/kg and T3, 150 g/kg of Gmelina arborea leaf meal. Feed and water were provided throughout the experimental period. Egg characteristics were the response criteria that were monitored and subjected to a one-way anova. There were significant (p<0.05) differences observed between treatments for mean egg number and egg shell weight, while no differences (p>0.05) were observed between treatments for eggs composition, weight of eggs, egg shell thickness, egg length, egg width, albumen height, albumen width, albumen weight, yolk height, yolk width, yolk weight. From this study, the egg laying performance and characteristics of eggs laid by birds suggested that among the treatments, up to 50 g/kg of Gmelina arborea leaf meal could be successfully included in quails’ diets without any adverse effect