| Popis: |
In a seven-week feeding trial, one hundred and eighty (180) 18-week-old uniform female Japanese quails were divided in a completely randomized design into five dietary groups, with four replicates of nine birds each to evaluate the nutritional and economic suitability of tiger-nut composite meal on egg output, external and internal egg quality parameters, and sensory properties. In the diets, tiger-nut composite meal was used to substitute maize at 0.00% (control), 12.50%, 25.00%, 37.50%, and 50.00%. The tiger-nut composite meal contained 9.68% crude protein, 3.24% ether extract, 9.75% crude fibre, 8.62% ash and 2707.44 kcal/kg metabolizable energy according to proximate analysis. The feed intake and feed cost per kg were significantly influenced (p < 0.05) while other aspects of egg production were unaffected. The eggshell weight and percentage, yolk weight, height, length, colour, index, albumen percentage, yolk: albumen ratio and haugh unit were significantly different (p < 0.05). The yolk color, egg taste, texture, residue, and overall acceptability were all significantly different (p < 0.05) when sensory properties were analyzed. The use of up to 50.00% tiger-nut composite meal reduced the feed costs and did not adversely affect the profit, albumen percentage, and haugh unit but reduced the yolk weight, colour, shell weight, and overall acceptability. However, 25.00% replacement for maize is most appropriate for sensory properties. |
