Effect of different levels of zinc supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails
2016
Iftikhar, M.A.
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of zinc supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. Two hundred and forty, day old quail chicks were purchased from a local hatchery and were randomly divided into 16 experimental units having fifteen quail chicks each. These experimental units were allotted to four treatment groups (A, B, C, and D) such that each treatment has four replicates. Group A was without supplementation of zinc sulfate and serve as control while the birds in group B, C and D were supplemented with zinc sulfate at the rate of 60, 80 and 100 mg/kg feed, respectively. One square feet space was provided to the seven Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) birds. Experiment was conducted from 1-5 weeks under uniform managemental conditions. During the trial the data regarding weekly body weight, feed intake, mortality was recorded and at the end slaughtered data, regarding dressing percentage mean weight of heart, liver and gizzard were recorded. Zinc supplementation at the rate of 60, 80 and 100 mg/kg feed significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The zinc supplementation significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) improved the dressing percentage regardless of level of supplementation. The use of zinc had beneficial effects on growth performance and may made the poultry farming more profitable as the zinc supplementation increased profit margin. It can be concluded that zinc supplementation through feed has beneficial effects on Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) growth performance and dressing percentage.
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