A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of replacing yellow corn ingredient as the major energy source in laying Japanese quail diets by 0, 5 and 10% each irradiated Olive Pulp (IOP) or un-irradiated Olive Pulp (OP). A total of 216 laying Japanese quail, 12 weeks-old were randomly divided into six equal treatments (36 birds/ treatment) with three replicates (8 female, 4 male in each). The experiment was lasted for six weeks to evaluate OP or IOP as a source of nutrients. The results obtained could be summarized as follows: 1). There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in egg production, egg weight and feed efficiency, fertility, hatching percentage and hatching weight when IOP was fed at levels up to 10%. 2). There was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in blood heamalotogical parameters when IOP was fed at levels up to 10%. 3). OP had no significant effect on egg quality measurements, except for yolk weight % and yolk colour values, they recorded significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in diets including IOP up to 60 g/kg. 4). It seems that replacing of IOP up to 10% in layers diets had the highest relative economic efficiency. Therefore, it could be concluded that IOP can be used in laying quail diets at levels up to 10% on the expense of dietary yellow corn without detrimental effects on their biological performance.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of full-fat canola seeds (FFCS) on productive performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. A total of 360, 8-week-old quails were divided into a completely randomize design with 4 dietary experimental groups and three pens each, each pen containing 30hens. The experimental groups were fed iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets supplemented with FFCS at levels 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg diet. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. All supplemented groups showed significant effects in the final body weight (g), hen feed consumption (g/hen/day), egg mass (g egg/hen/day) and hen-day egg production (%). However, egg weight (g) at 8-12 weeks of age reduced significantly. Moreover, feed conversion ratio (g feed/g egg), did not alter among groups. Egg quality criteria were not affected by FFCS supplementationexcept for the egg shape index which decreased significantly at 10 and 15% FFCS groups. Serum total protein, albumen, uric acid, creatinine, hepatic enzyme activities, triiodothyronine, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterolconcentrations were not altered. However, serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol showed significant reduction in all treated groups. Furthermore, serum glutathione peroxidase level was greatly influencedin supplemented groups, while malondialdehyde level reduced significantly. In conclusion, FFCS inclusion in Laying Japanese quail diets up to 15% enhanced the laying performance, blood lipids profile and anti-oxidative status. Thus, it can be regarded as alternative sources of energy and protein in poultry rations.

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A study was conducted to assess 47 Calcium (47 Ca) distribution and biological half-life in different body organs of Japanese quail chicks. A total of 85, 4 week old chicks, were dosed with 1ml/chick volume of 1% (w/v) CaCl 2 solution containing 7.51x10-08 Ci 47 Ca which is equivalent to 1.27x10-13 g. 47 Ca activity, in terms of decay per minute (DPM), was measured in different body organs at 12 hours time intervals, after 24 hours from ingestion for five days. The total activity of 47 Ca for each organ and activity per gram of organ (D.min-1 .g-1) was calculated. Data were Statistically analyzed using completely randomized design (CRD), one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as per the procedure given by SPSS (2002), 9.0 version for Windows. The results obtained indicated that following 47 Ca administration most of the total 47 Ca concentration was found in the bones with count rates of 110267±550 DPM. While in the fifth day following administration, most of the 47 Ca was found in the feathers with a total activity of 13322±760 DPM. The biological half-life time was found to be highest in the heart and kidneys, respectively compared to the other body organs. In conclusion, the current results suggest that the main excretory pathway for Ca is through the skin. Regarding organ dependency on Ca for the normal functioning, the results obtained in our study suggest that the heart is the most dependent organ on Ca.