EFFECT OF MEAT-BONE LEFTOVER MEAL ON EGG PRODUCTION OF JAPANESE QUAILS (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA)

Abstract

The study examined the impact of meat-bone leftover meal (MBLM) leftovers on the egg production of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Meat-bone leftover refers to the meat and bones were collected from restaurants, hotels, and event centers, then crushed and dried to create the MBLM. Four diets were formulated, replacing soybean meal with MBLM at levels of 0%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%, with the 0% diet serving as the control. A total of 200 five-week-old female quails were divided into four groups of 50, with five replicates of 10 quails each, using a completely randomized design and reared on their respective diets for 14 weeks. Key metrics, including initial and final weights, feed intake, and egg production, were recorded, with hen-day egg production (HDEP) calculated as well. By the end of the experiment, quails on the control diet, as well as those on the 5% and 7.5% MBLM diets, exhibited lower body weight changes (BWC) and higher total feed intake (TFI), while quails on the 10% MBM diet showed higher BWC and lower TFI. Notably, those on the 10% MBLM had the highest HDEP from weeks 7 to 11, followed by those on the 7.5% MBLM, whereas the control group had lower HDEP values. However, from weeks 17 to 19, the quails on the 10% MBM diet showed lower HDEP, while those on the 5% and 7.5% MBLM diets had higher HDEP comparable to the control. The diets containing 5% and 7.5% MBLM promote better egg production in older quails and are therefore recommended.