Influence of dietary amino acids on marketing age of meat type quails

Comparative nutrient utilization efficiency and economics of production upto 4 and 5 weeks of age of meat type grower quail (heavy body weight line) was analyzed to ascertain the marketing age with more return. Day-old quail chicks (928) were raised on standard diets up to 5 weeks of age in 24 replicated groups of 38–39 chicks in each. Eight corn-soya based dietary treatments with four levels of essentia] amino acids (EAA) viz. 90, 100, 110 and 120% of NRC (1994); each with or without fish meal were formulated following 4x2 factorial design. Each dietary treatment was allotted to 3 groups (replicates) from day-old. All the diets were made iso-caloric (2900 kcal ME/kg). The various parameters studied to ascertain the optimum age were not influenced by source of dietary protein, while the levels of EAA influenced the different parameters. The comparative performance parameters at 4^th and 5^th weeks of age were analyzed using paired t-test. Live weights at 4^th and 5^th week of age were 148 and 182 g/bird. The meat yield (103 vs. 126 g) was also higher (P<0.01) at 5^th week of age. However FCR 2.57 vs. 3.04), protein efficiency 0.57 vs. 0.67 g/g gain), energy efficiency 6.82 vs. 8.04 kcal/g gain) increased significantly at 5^th week of age, while cost of feed consumed (Rs. 2.85 vs. 4.21), feed cost/kg gain (Rs. 20.31 vs. 23.98) and feed cost of meat production (Rs.27.68 vs. 33.28/kg) at 0–4 and 0–5 weeks of growth phases respectively were lower (P<0.01) at 4^th week of age. Therefore, marketing of meat type heavy body weight quails at 4^th week of age will be economically beneficial.