Millet and Sorghum as Possible Dietary Energy Sources in the Diet of Japanese Quails

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of millet and sorghum as alternatives to maize. on performance and egg production parameters of quails. Three hundred (300) day old quails were sourced form National Veterinary Institute Jos. The birds were brooded for two weeks and randomly allotted to three (3) different energy sources i.e. maize, millet and sorghum designated as treatment 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The birds were fed with experimental diets for six months. Results showed daily feed intake (68.35-79.86), daily weight gain (3.41-3.43) and feed conversion ratio (3.33-3.91) were not affected by the different energy sources (P>0.05). Most of the carcass parameters were statistically similar (P>0.05). The hen day egg production (80.21-84.51) and egg production parameters were not affected by the alternative energy sources (P>0.05), similarly hematological parameters showed that packed cell volume (50.20-56.00), red blood cells (4.72-5.21) and hemoglobin (16.98-18.38) were statistically similar (P>0.05). The serum biochemical parameters showed that total protein (36.20-39.80), globulins (11.60-14.44), total protein (36.20-39.80), glucose (12.68-14.82), cholesterol (5.36-6.78), urea (17.80-20.00) and were not affected by the different energy sources (P>0.05). I It can be concluded that millet and sorghum can be alternative energy sources in quail production in semi-arid environment of Gashua Yobe state with reduction in cost of production.

Sorghum, millet and cassava as alternative dietary energy sources for sustainable quail production – A review

“…the recommended range, suggesting normal bone marrow activity and absence of anemia, whether macrocytic, autoimmune, or hypochromic (Aminu et al, 2021). The authors also observed that quails fed with millet and sorghum diets had higher neutrophil values compared to those on maize diet, indicating higher disease fighting abilities for the former than the latter.…”

“…Hence, to augment the lack in intense yellow yolk color, pigment inclusion is encouraged (Freitas et al, 2014). Aminu et al (2021) also revealed that the daily egg production of Japanese quail hens was not affected by complete replacement of dietary maize by either millet or sorghum. Abu and Judah (2019) evaluated the comparative effect of millet, sorghum, and cassava flours as alternative energy sources for the Japanese quails in place of maize and found that while egg weight, yolk weight and height were highest in quails fed with the sorghum-based diet, quails fed with millet had the highest yolk and egg shape indices compared to those that had received the maize and cassava-based diets.…”

Economics of production of laying Japanese quails fed with different energy sources in semi-arid environment of Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria

“…Nigerian livestock industry has been greatly affected by high cost of feed which is reported to account for 60-80% of the total cost monogastric production (Sanni and Ogundipe, 2005). This high cost of feeds has necessitated the search of alternative energy sources for quail production (Maidala et al, 2021). Commercial quail production depends heavily on maize as the major energy source which poses a major challenge to quail farmers (Masenya et al 2021).…”