Manoj Baranda, J.L. Choudhary, D.S. Goswami, M.K. Pankaj, S. Mishra and A.K. Meena
Abstract
The present study was conducted on laying Japanese quail to evaluate the effect of optimum dietary level of Shatavari root powder (SRP) along with vitamin E supplementation on egg production and egg quality parameter. Two hundred laying Japanese quail of 7 week age were randomly distributed in 5 dietary treatment groups (40 birds in each treatment with 4 replications) and reared on standard managemental conditions. A maize, soybean and rice bran-based basal diet (BD) having all the nutrients in the required quantity was prepared for layeras per NRC (1994) standard. The SRP was added over the BD at 1.0% level (T2), 1.5% level (T3), BD with SRP @ 1% + vitamin E @ 250 mg/kg (T4) and BD with SRP @ 1.5% + vitamin E @ 250 mg/kg(T5), whereas the T1 group was feeding only BD and serves as control. Each of such diets was offered as mash ad libitum to laying Japanese quails reared on deep litter for a period of 7 weeks (7-14 weeks of age). The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher egg production (33.25ñ0.47) in treatment T5 containing 1.5 per cent SRP along with vitamin E @ 250 mg/kg compare to rest of treatment group and control on 14th weeks age of laying quail. Similarly, the results revealed that the egg weight and shell weight showed significant difference among different treatment groups at all the stages except total egg production. The average egg weight from 7th to 14th week age was significantly (P<005) higher (12.00ñ0.40) in T5 group as compared to rest of the treatment groups. The shell weight of eggs were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T5, T3, T1 as compared to rest of the treatment groups. It was concluded that inclusion of SRP with vitamin E combination 1.5% and @ 250 mg/kg levels to common feedstuffs is sufficient to support the optimum egg production and improve egg quality traits of Japanese quails and there is no need to supplement the diet with additional ingredients.