C URRENT study was performed to investigate the effects of added different levels of common salt in the water on carcass characteristics and litter moisture of Japanese quail. Six hundred one-day old Japanese quail chicks(8.61±0.21 grams) divided to six treatments and five replicates of 20 birds per experimental units, based on completely randomized design for 42 days. All treatments fed the same diets and only the amount of sodium chloride in the water was different. Control treatment consumed conventional drinking water containing 233 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) and other treatments consumed water supplemented with 1.32, 2.80, 3.80, 5.56 and 7.12 grams of NaCl per liter which were equal to 1233, 2233, 3233, 4233 and 5233 ppm for other experimental groups, respectively. At the end of experiment, four chicks from each replicate slaughtered and then carcass traits measured. The results showed that pre-slaughter weight, carcass and breast yield as well asdry matter content of thighs, breast, and ash content of breast,were significantly affected by water salinity. Higher amounts of TDS in drinking water often resulted in lower pre-slaughter weight and carcass and breast yield; but greater dry matter content of thighs and ash content of thighs and breast observed in tested Japanese quails. Litter moisture content also significantly increased by increasing TDS levels in drinking water. Inconclusion, in order to maintain carcass characteristics and litter qualityof quailsat the safe range, amount of TDS in drinking water should not be more than 2233 ppm.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of added different levels of common salt in drinking water on the production performance and mortality rate in Japanese quail chicks. A total of 600 one-day old (8.61±0.21 grams) Japanese quail chicks divided into six treatment groups and five replicates of 20 birds per experimental units, based on completely randomized design for 42 days. All groups were fed the same diets and only amount of salt in the water differed. Control group consumed conventional drinking water and other treatments have 1.32, 2.80, 3.80, 5.56 and 7.12 grams of salt per liter which was equal to 233 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) for control group and 1233, 2233, 3233, 4233 and 5233 ppm for other experimental groups, respectively. The results showed that feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), live body weight (LBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly affected by water salinity (p > 0.0001). The highest FI and worst FCR were for treatment containing 5233 ppm TDS whereas the best FCR have been observed for treatments containing 233, 1233 and 2233 ppm TDS. The mortality rate also significantly increased by the increasing TDS level in drinked water (p > 0.0001). In conclusion, in order to maintain quail chicks performance at economic and acceptable range as well as least mortality, amount of TDS in drinking water should not be more than 2233 ppm.