Replacement of maize by wheat and bajra on the egg production performance of Japanese quails*

Six weeks old 221 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were procured to find out the effect of replacement of maize with wheat or bajra as an alternative source of energy in the diet and kept in battery upto 22 weeks of age. These birds were subjected to five treatment groups i.e. control (T₁), replacing maize with 50 per cent bajra (T₂), 75 per cent bajra (T₃), 50 per cent wheat (T₄) and 75 per cent wheat (T₅). There was no significant effect on egg production and feed conversion ratio (kg of feed/dozen eggs) in quails by replacing maize with bajra or wheat. Feeding cost of producing one dozen eggs in T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ groups were Rs. 3.59, 3.42, 3.33, 3.65 and 3.74 respectively. It may be concluded that maize can be replaced with bajra or wheat upto 75 per cent as an alternative source of energy in the ration of laying quails depending on the cost and availability of these ingredients. Moreover 75 per cent maize may be replaced by bajra for economic egg production in quails.