Affiliation:
1. Agricultural Research Center
Abstract
Abstract
A total of 375 un-sexed Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks, 5 days-old were randomly allotted to 5 experimental groups to examine the effect of the inclusion of rice gluten meal (RGM) at levels of 2.5 and 5% and supplementation of betaine at levels of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg diet on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, hematology, serum biochemistry and gastrointestinal tract microbiota of growing Japanese quail under summer season. Quails were fed a basal diet and the other four diets contained 2.5 and 5% RGM with 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine supplementation. The results revealed quails fed 5%RGM + 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine achieved the highest (P < 0.05) body weight at 5 weeks of age, quails fed 5%RGM + 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine recorded the highest (P < 0.05) body weight gain at 1–5 weeks of age. Quails fed 5%RGM + 1.0 g betaine improved (P < 0.05) DFI at all periods. 5%RGM + 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine groups recorded the best FCR at 1–5 weeks of age. RGM and betaine improved CP and EE digestibilities. RGM and betaine was lower (P < 0.05) in abdominal fat. Quails fed 5%RGM + 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine increased (P < 0.05) WBC count. HB level of the quails group fed diet contained 5%RGM + 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine was higher (P < 0.05). Betaine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the lactic acid bacteria count and decreased (P < 0.05) E-coli and coliform counts. In conclusion, the combination of RGM and betaine could maintain the growth performance, intestinal health and improve nutrients digestibility of Japanese quails during summer season.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference83 articles.
1. Betaine and related compounds: Chemistry, metabolism and role in mitigating heat stress in poultry;Alagawany M;Journal of Thermal Biology,2022
2. Effects of nano emulsified vegetable oil and betaine on growth traits and meat characteristics of broiler chickens reared under cyclic heat stress;Abudabos AM;Animals,2021
3. Effects of rice gluten meal inclusion on productive and economic performance in broilers;Agena MY;Damanhour Journal of Veterinary Sciences,2019
4. Effect of dietary supplementation of prebiotic, betaine and their combination on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass criteria and cecum microbial population of ducks under hot environmental conditions;Ahmed MMN;Egypt. Poult. Sci.,2018
5. Effects of betaine supplementation on live performance, selected blood parameters, and expression of water channel and stress-related mRNA transcripts of delayed placement broiler chicks;Al-Sagan AA;Front. Vet. Sci.,2021