Effect of replacing maize as a source of energy with pearl millet on quails (Cortunix cortunix) performance
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Date
2015
Authors
Simuyala, Mitson B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of replacing maize with pearl millet as a source of energy in quail diets on growth performance and the cost of feed. One hundred and twenty (120) quails weighing averagely 34.80g after ten days brooding period were randomly allocated to four (4) experimental diets in a 42-day feeding trialin a complete randomized design (CRD). The four experimental diets wereO%, 50%,75% and 100% replacement of maize by pearl millet. Each treatment consisted 30 birds and three replicates often quails each.
The results showed that the growth performance was better as the replacement of maize by pearl millet increased. The average daily live weight gain (DLWG) wasl41.4g, 147.3g, 150.3g, and 172.3g at 0%, 50%, 75% and 100% millet respectively and wassignificaltly better at 75% and 100 (p<0.05). The average daily feed intake(DFI) per bird were 132.3g, 137.8g, 148.0g, and 148.8g in the 0%, 50%, 75% and 100% millet diet respectively and was significantly lower in the control diet (p<0.05).The food conversion ratio(FCR) was higher in birds on diet that had 75%pearl millet than the rest of the treatments(p<0.05). The results also indicated that the cost of feed was significantly lower in the control diet (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the net income among the treatment (p>0.05).
It is concluded that pearl millet can replace maize in quail diet up to 100% rate for better feed intake and live weight gain.
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Keywords
Quails , Quails--Feeding and feeds , Quails--Nutrition