Effect of Quantitative Feed Restriction on Some Physiological Parameters of Japanese Quails

Abstract

The aim of this study to evaluate the effect of quantitative feed restriction on some physiological parameters of Japanese Quail. A total of 160 unsexed Japanese Quail aged 21 days were used for this study, divided randomly to four groups, each has four replicates as follows; control group (T1) feed ad libitum, treatment (T2), treatment (T3) and treatment (T4), 10%, 20% and 30% feed restriction of the control group value respectively for two weeks. On day 35 all the groups returned to the free feed ad libitum till the end of the treatment.Variables measured includes; productive, hematological and biochemical parameters.The results shows significant (p≤0.05) effect of feed restriction as the body weight decreased in the 4th, 5th and 6th week, on the other hand the weekly body weight increase, decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in the 4th week and increased significantly (p≤0.05) in the 6th week. The amount of feed taken in 4th, 5th decrease significantly (p≤0.05) and increased significantly (p≤0.05) at the 6th week, but the feed conversion ratio increased significantly (p≤0.05) in the 4th week and decreased (p≤0.05) in the 5th and 6th week, with significant (p≤0.05) increase in the relative growth rate in the 5th and 6th week in T4 . Cholesterol increased while triglycerides decrease significantly (p≤0.05). Hb and PCV decrease significantly (p≤0.05) compared to the control. We can conclude from the results that quantitative feed restriction programs may have some economic benefits with some health hazard through rising cholesterol levels, decreasing Hb and PCV values according to the intensity of feed restriction regimen.