Experiment was conducted involving three levels each of choline (1500, 2000 and 2500 mg/kg) and methionine (0.37, 52 and 0.67% corresponding to 0.6, 0.75 and 0.9% total sulphur amino acids (TSAA) in a factorial design to growth selected line of quails from 0–5 week age. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio and protein utilization efficiency increased significantly with the increase in dietary choline from 1500 to 2000 mg/kg and TSAA (methionine + cystine) from 0.60 to 0.75 percent. Percent dressed weight and carcass fat were lowest at 0.60% TSAA and 2000 mg/kg choline, respectively. Dietary levels of methionine significantly influenced haemaglutination inhibition antibody titre and percent lymphocyte migration inhibition with maximum values at 0.75% TSAA. Further increase of TSAA to 0.90% appeared to have no beneficiary effect on the immune response ofthe birds.
Quails, choline, sulphur amino acids, growth performance
