Effect of Feeding Brewers’ Dried Grain on the Performance of Japanese Quail Layers

The effect of brewers’ dried grain (BDG) on the egg production, egg weight and egg quality characteristics was studied in Japanese quail laying hens for a period of 18 weeks (9–27 weeks). A basal diet based on maize-soybean meal-deoiled rice bran was formulated. Two test diets were formulated by incorporation of BDG at 5 and 10% level by partially replacing maize, soybean meal and deoiled rice bran (DORB) of the basal diet. The chicks were randomly distributed in to 3 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. All the diets were fed ad lib. to three replicates of 15 laying quails throughout the experimental period of 18 weeks. Egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg weight were significantly improved (P<0.05) by the inclusion of 5% BDG by replacing maize, soybean meal and DORB in control diet. The feed consumption and percentages of egg contents, albumen, yolk and shell and shape index were similar across all the treatments. The net profit in quails fed 5% BDG was higher than those fed control diet. However, the shell thickness was decreased significantly (P<0.05) due to inclusion of BDG. It may be concluded that brewers’ dried grain can be incorporated at a level of 5% in the diet of Japanese quail layers by partial replacement of maize, soybean meal and de-oiled rice bran for improvement in egg production performance and higher profit margin.