Effects of different dietary energy and protein levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and selected blood parameters of Japanese quail

Document Type : Scientific-Extensional Article

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, North Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bojnord, North Khorasan, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, South Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran

3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the optimal dietary energy and protein levels during the growing period of Japanese quail. A total of 360 five-day-old Japanese quails with an average body weight of 14 ± 1 g were used. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement including two levels of metabolizable energy (2,800 and 2,900 kcal/kg) and three levels of crude protein (22, 24, and 26%). The experimental treatments consisted of four replicates, each containing 15 quails. Birds were reared on litter for 42 days. Feed intake and body weight were recorded on days 5, 14, 28, and 42, and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the end of the experimental period, two quails were randomly selected from each experimental unit and slaughtered after blood sampling from the jugular vein to evaluate carcass traits. The results indicated that body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were significantly affected by the experimental treatments, such that the highest weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio were observed in quails fed a diet containing 2,900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy and 26% crude protein. The interaction effects of dietary energy and protein levels were significant on carcass yield, breast, thigh, liver, and abdominal fat percentages. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total protein were also significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. Overall, the use of a diet containing 2,900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy and 26% crude protein is recommended to achieve optimal performance along with lower serum cholesterol levels and reduced abdominal fat deposition in Japanese quail.

Keywords

References

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Professional Journal of Domestic
Volume 26, Issue 1 - Serial Number 36
In Progress
June 2026
Pages 42-49

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