Effect of incorporation of rice DDGS on serum biochemical profile, carcass characteristics and pH in Japanese quail diets

The present study was carried out to study the effect of dietary incorporation of rice DDGS on serum biochemical profile and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. Day old Japanese quails (n=180) were distributed randomly into five dietary groups each with three replicates of 12 birds and were maintained under uniform conditions. Experimental diets were prepared with incorporation of rice DDGS at 0% (T₁: control), 5% (T₂), 10% (T₃), 15% (T₄) and 20% (T₅) levels by marginal adjustment of other feed ingredients. All the rations were made iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. Feed and water were provided adlibitum. The birds were housed in battery cages during the experiment period of 0-5 weeks. Findings revealed that serum total protein was significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of rice DDGS. Whereas, Serum albumin, globulin and Albumin Globulin ratio were not affected by level of rice DDGS. But, serum total cholesterol was significantly decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of rice DDGS. The carcass traits like live weight and carcass weight were significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of rice DDGS. On other hand, incorporation of rice DDGS from 0 to 20% in diet had no significant effect on dressing percentage, liver, heart, gizzard and giblet weights. The meat quality parameter i.e., pH of meat of quails revealed that incorporation of rice DDGS up to 20% level had no effect. Rice DDGS can be incorporated at 20% level in diets of quails without having any adverse effect on serum profile, carcass traits and pH.

• Rice DDGS is an unconventional feed source used in quail ration which decreases serum cholesterol and increases serum total protein.

• Use of rice DDGS helps in achieving good dressing percentage in quails.