Centre of Advanced Studies in Poultry Science, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637001, Tamil Nadu.
* Part of the MVSc thesis ofthe first author submitted to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.
A biological trial was conducted for a period of 5 weeks to study the effect of graded levels of Lactobacillus acidophilus on the perfonnance of Japanese quails. The quails were fed with graded levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 per cent) of L. acidophilus from day one to five weeks of age. The L. acidophilus supplemented groups recorded significantly higher body weight than the control group. Upto five weeks of age, the L. acidophilus supplementation had resulted in a moderate reduction in feed intake with a non-significant improvement in feed efficiency in Japanese quail. Mortality and carcass yields were not significantly influenced by L. acidophilus supplementation in quails. Henceitis concluded that supplementation of 0.1 to 0.2 percent level L. acidophilus in broiler quail diet will improve the body weight gain and feed efficiency and thereby increase the profit margin to the farming community.
Japanese quail, probiotic, body weight, feed efficiency, eviscerated yield
