Red milkwood (Mimusops zeyheri) seed meal can replace maize meal in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed economy and carcass yield

Veterinary and Animal Science

Bayanda Mdoda¹  Eliton Chivandi²  Busisani Wiseman Lembede³ 

[1] University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa;Corresponding author.;University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa;

关键词: Mimusops zeyheri seed;    Non-conventional feed ingredients;    Feed cost;    Japanese quail;    Productive performance;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Mimusops zeyheri is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and its seed meal (MZSM) has a higher energy content than maize meal (MM). We evaluated the potential of MZSM to substitute MM in Japanese quail finisher diets by determining its effects on growth performance, feed intake (FI) and feed utilisation efficiency, abdominal fat deposition and carcass yield. In a completely randomised design thirty-two 5-weeks old male Japanese quail were allocated to four diets wherein MZSM replaced MM at 0%, 12.5%, 25% and 37.5% (gross energy basis) and fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. Initial and weekly body weight, final body weight (FBW) and daily FI were measured. Body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FRC) were computed. At the end of the trial, following a 4-hour fast, the quail were weighed then humanely slaughtered and dressed. Carcass weight and dressing percent were determined. Abdominal fat was weighed. MZSM did not affect (P>0.05) the quail's FBW, BWG, ADG, FCR, carcass weight and dressing percent. MZSM at 37.5% inclusion decreased (P<0.0001) FI in weeks 1 and 2 and total FI of the quail. Dietary M. zeyheri seed meal decreased (P<0.0001) abdominal fat mass. Use of MZSM would be most economic at 37.5% inclusion because despite decreasing total FI, growth performance was similar to control. M. zeyheri seed meal can be used as a dietary energy source in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed utilisation efficiency and carcass yield.

【 授权许可】

Unknown