EFFECT OF BIOVET ON PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND HATCHABILITY IN QUAIL BREEDERS

Transcription

1 Indian J. Anim. Res., 48 (3) : , 2014 doi: /j AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE EFFECT OF BIOVET ON PERFORMANCE, EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND HATCHABILITY IN QUAIL BREEDERS B.K. Swain*, P.K. Naik, E.B. Chakurkar and N.P. Singh ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Ela, Old Goa , India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT The effect of Biovet (combination of prebiotic and probiotic) on the egg production, egg weight, egg quality characteristics and hatchability was studied in Japanese quail breeders for a period of 8 weeks (7-15 weeks). Control diet was formulated to meet the standard nutrient requirement of breeding quails. Biovet was supplied in drinking water 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g per litre to 4 groups of breeding quails and each group further replicated to 4 sub-groups with 10 females and 5 males. Egg production, egg weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (Kg feed/kg egg mass) were similar for all groups. The egg shell %, shell thickness, fertility and hatchability were significantly (P< 0.05) improved in quails given g biovet/litre of DW. It was concluded that supplementation of 0.5g/litre is beneficial in terms of improvement in egg shell quality, fertility and hatchability. Key words: Biovet, Breeding Japanese quails, Egg shell quality, Hatchability, Performance. INTRODUCTION Prebiotics, non-digestible feed ingredients, have selective effects on the intestinal microflora. They are consisting of nondigestible oligosaccharides which include fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, transgalactooligosaccharide and mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) (Garcia, 2003; Gibson, 2004; Patterson and Burkholder, 2003; Sashidhara and Devegowda, 2003). Prebiotics have the potential to enhance growth rate, feed efficiency and livability in commercial broiler and turkeys, and egg production in layers (Shane, 2001). More recently the probiotics have been defined as mono or mixed cultures of live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host (FAO/WHO, 2002). In recent years, breeding of quail has taken an important place in alternative poultry production. There have been limited studies investigating the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on performance of quail breeders (Guclu, 2011). Supplementation of combination of prebiotic (MOS) and probiotic (multistain bacteria and yeast) to the diet of quail breeders positively affected egg production and egg shell thickness (Guclu, 2011). According to Gardiner et al.(2004) and Timmerman et al.(2004) functionality of a multistrain/multispecies probiotics could be more effective and more consistent than that of a monostrain. Dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus sporogenes at 100 mg (6X108 spores)/kg diet significantly increased egg production and feed efficiency (Arun et al., 2007). Abdel-Azeem et al.(2005) reported that the egg mass and egg weight were improved in quail laying hens in probiotics supplemented diet. The feed intake was not affected by the probiotic supplementation of laying hens (Khan et al., 2011). However, the feed conversion improved (P< 0.05) by 0.49 points after addition of probiotic protexin. Addition of live yeast (S. 0.4 and 0.8 % improved the egg production by 9.4 and 6.6 %, respectively over and above the control group (7.4 %). The egg albumen, yolk and shell % were not affected. However, the egg shell thickness was significantly (P< 0.05) increased in hens fed 0.8 % (Hassanein and Soliman, 2010). Moreover, controversial results have been reported regarding the use of biological additives to poultry diets (Panda et al., 2003; Pelicano et al., 2004). Keeping the above points in view, the present study was conducted to see the * Corresponding author s rbkswain@yahoo.com.

2 282 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH effect of Biovet (combination of prebiotic and probiotic) on the performance, egg quality traits and hatchability of quail breeders. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred forty (Seven week old, average weight of 160 gram (male) and 200 g, female) breeding Japanese quails were randomly distributed into 4 groups having 4 replicates of 15 quails each in a female : male ratio of 2:1. Control diet was prepared with maize powder 50 %, soybean meal, 29 %, deoiled rice bran 11.5 %, dicalcium phosphate, 1.50 %, Limestone, 7.50 %, mineral mix, 0.15 %, common salt, 0.5 %, DL-methionine, 0.01 %, vitamin mix., 0.02 % (Table 1). The proximate composition of control diet was analysed (AOAC, 1990).The treatment groups were given Biovet (prebiotic and 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/litre of drinking water (DW) daily. All the breeding quails were kept in metallic cages and feed and water were provided ad libitium throughout the experimental period of 8 weeks. Weekly feed consumption, egg weight and daily egg production were recorded and feed efficiency was calculated at the end of the experiment. Body weight was recorded twice during the experimental period of 8 weeks. Eggs were tested for quality characteristics like % of egg contents, albumen, yolk and shell, shell thickness and shell membrane thickness. Biovet, a commercial product containing Lactobacillus sporogenes, Saccharomyces boulradii, prebiotic dextran oligosaccharide and vitamins was supplemented in the drinking water at a rate of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g / Litre, respectively for control, and three treatment groups from 7-15 weeks. During 7-15 weeks the average intake of water was 100 ml per quail. At 15 TABLE 1: Composition (%) of Experimental Diet weeks of age the hatchability study was carried out. One hundred and fifty eggs from each group were collected during the last week of the study. One hundred twenty five eggs were selected from each group and set in the incubator. The number of hatched chicks was recorded for three days after 17 th day of incubation and hatching period. Then the remaining non-hatched eggs were cracked, and fertile, infertile eggs and embryonic deaths were recorded. The hatchability characteristics were calculated by the following formulae. Fertility= Number of fertile eggs/number of total eggs set x 100 Hatchability (fertile eggs set)= Number of hatched chicks/number of fertile eggs set x 100 Hatchability (total eggs set)= Number of hatched chicks/number of total eggs set x 100 Data were subjected to statistical analysis (Snedecor and Cochran, 1968) and means were tested for significant differences (Duncan, 1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The egg production was similar across the treatments (Table 2). In contrast, positive effect of multi-strain probiotic and combination of prebiotic and probiotic on egg production of Japanese quail layers and breeders was reported by previous workers (Ayassan et al., 2006; Guclu, 2011). Feed intake was not affected by the supplemental biovet through drinking water which is in agreement with the findings of previous workers in laying quails and laying hens (Ayassan et al., 2006; Khan et al., 2011). Feed conversion ratio (Feed to dozen egg ratio) significantly (P< 0.05) reduced due to biovet Ingredients D1 D2 D3 D4 Yellow ground maize Soybean meal Deoiled ricebran Dicalcium Phosphate Ground Limestone Common salt DL-Methionine Vitamin Mixture a Mineral Mixture b Biovet (g/litre of D.W.) Chemical composition (Analysed), % Crude Protein 20.8 Ether Extract 2.8 Crude Fibre 6.2 Total Ash 10.8 Acid insol. Ash 1.3

3 supplementation in DW (Table 2). In contrast, previous workers found significant improvement in FCR in breeder Japanese quails due to supplementation of combination of prebiotic and probiotic in breeder quail diet (Guclu, 2011) and multi-strain probiotic (protexin) in laying quail diet (Ayassan et al., 2006). The egg weight was improved numerically due to supplementation of 0.5g/litre of DW. In agreement with the present findings, Abdel-Azeem et al.(2005) observed that egg mass and egg weight were improved in quail laying hens in probiotics supplemented diet and supplementation of yeast with prebiotic % improved egg weight in laying quails (Cepuliene et al., 2010). In contrast, no improvement in egg weight in quails was observed due to supplementation of combination of prebiotic and probiotic in quail breeder diet (Guclu, 2011) and multi-strain probiotic (protexin) in quail layer diet (Ayassan et al., 2006). Addition of biovet in drinking water did not affect the albumen and yolk % in breeder quails. Similar observations were made by Hassanein and Soliman, (2011) in laying hens fed diet supplemented with Saccharomyces %. The shell % was significantly improved due to supplementation of biovet in drinking g/litre of DW. Similarly, egg shell weight was increased in laying quails fed probiotic feed (Ayassan et al., 2006), addition of yeast culture having prebiotic activity 0.2 and 0.4 % (Cepuliene et Vol. 48, No. 3, 2014 TABLE 2: Effect of Biovet (probiotic, prebiotic) on performance and hatchability of laying Japanese quails Treatments T 0 T 0.5 T 1.0 T 1.5 SEM Egg Production (dozen) 2.85 a 2.78 a 2.74 ab 2.66 b Feed consumption (Kg) Feed conversion ratio a ab ab b (Kg feed/dozzen egg) Feed conversion ratio (Kg feed/kg egg mass) Egg weight (g) Egg quality characteristics Egg contents (%) Albumen (%) Yolk (%) Shell (%) a bc b c Shape index Shell thickness (mm) a b bc c Shell memb. thickness (mm) a ab bc c Hatchability Fertile egg, % a c b a Hatchability, % (total egg set) b d c a Hatchability, % (fertile egg set) b c b a Means bearing different superscripts column wise differ significantly (P< 0.05) 283 al., 2010) and addition of yeast culture to laying hen s diet (Zwell, 2007). The egg shell thickness was significantly (P< 0.05) improved in breeder quails given 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/litre of DW. In agreement with this, Guclu (2011) observed significant (P< 0.05) increase in shell thickness in breeder quails fed diet supplemented with either 0.5 g/ton feed or 0.5 g/ton feed. Egg shell thickness was significantly (P< 0.05) increased in hens fed 0.8 % (Hassanein and Soliman, 2011). In contrast, no difference in egg shell thickness was observed in laying quails fed probiotic g/ton feed compared to control. The fertility and hatchability (on total egg set and fertile egg set) of eggs in breeder quails were increased significantly (P< 0.05) due to supplementation of g/litre of DW. In agreement with this, Guclu (2011) reported that supplementation of either prebiotic or 0.5g/ton feed improved the fertility and hatchability (both on total egg set and fertile egg set) of breeder quails. In present study, the net profit was not improved due to supplementation of biovet in drinking water on the basis of our calculation (Table 3). H owever, the biovet supplementation is beneficial in terms improvement in egg shell thickness, fertility and hatchability. It was concluded that supplementation of biovet through drinking 0.5g/litre in quail breeders could be beneficial in terms of improvement in egg weight, egg shell thickness, fertility and hatchability.

4 284 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH TABLE 3: Cost Benefit Analysis Treatments Parameters T 0 T 0.5 T 1.0 T 1.5 Feed consumed per Quail bird, Kg Cost of feed/kg, Rs Total Cost of feed Feed Supplement(Rs) Cost of quail layer, Rs * Total cost, Rs Income from sale of eggs (Rs) Income from sale of culled quail (Rs) Total income (Rs) Net profit, Rs Profit, % * Includes cost of electricity, medicine and labour REFERENCES Abdel-Azeem, F.A., Nematallah, G.M. and Ibrahim Faten, A.A. (2005). Effect of dietary protein level with some natural biological feed additives supplementation on productive and physiological performance of Japanese quail. Egypt Poult. Sci., 25(2): AOAC. (1990). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Official Methods of Analysis, 15 th edn.,washington, USA. Arun, K.P., Savaram, S.R.R., Manteta, V.L.N.R. and Sita, S.S.(2007). Effect of probiotic(lactobacillus sporogenes) feeding on egg production and quality, yolk cholesterol and humoral immune response of White Leghorn layer breeders. J. Sci. Food Agric., 88 (1): Ayassan, T., Ozcan, B.D., Baylan, M. and Canogullari, S.(2006). The effects of dietary inclusion of probiotic Protexin on Egg Yield Parameters of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Int. J. Poult. Sci., 5(8): Cepuliene, R., Gudaviciute, D., Semaska, V., Bobiniene, R., Kepaliene, I., Venicius, D. and Sirvydis, V. (2010). Effect of the yeast culture feed additive on productivity and egg quality of laying quails. Vet Med Zootech, 52: Duncan, B. D. (1955). New multiple r ange and multiple F test. Biometrics, 11: FAO/WHO.(2002). Evaluation of health and nutritional properties of probiotics in food including powder milk with live lactic acid bacteria. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO expert consultation. and food probio_en.stm. Garcia, L.H. (2003). In Symposium: Probiotics and prebiotics. Biotechnol. Applic.,20: Gardiner, G. E., Casey, P.G., Casey, G.,Lynch, P.B., Lawlor, P.G., Hill, C., Fitzgerald, G.F., Stanton, C. and Ross, R.P. (2004). Relative ability of orally administered Lactobacillus murinus to predominate and persist in the porcine gastrointestinal tract. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 70: Gibson, G.R. (2004). From probiotics to prebiotics and a healthy digestive system. J. Food Sci., 69: Guclu, B.K. (2011). Effect of probiotic and prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) supplementation on performance, egg quality and hatchability in quail breeders. Ankara Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg, 58: Hossanein, S.M. and Soliman, N.K. (2010). Effect of probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) adding to diets on intestinal microflora and performance of Hy-Line layers hens. J. American Sci., 6(1): Khan, S.H., Atif, M., Mukhtar, N., Rehman, A. and Fareed, G. (2011). Effects of supplementation of multi-enzyme and multi-species probiotic on production performance, egg quality, cholesterol level and immune system in laying hens. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 39(4): Panda, A. K., Reddy, M.R., RamaRao,S.V. and Praharaj, N.K.(2003). Production performance, serum/yolk cholesterol and immune competence of white leghorn layers as influenced by dietary supplementation with probiotic. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 35:85-94.

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