Egg Production Pattern of Quails Given Diets Containing Different Energy and Protein Contents

Egg production is influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors such as nutrient contents in the diet. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional influence (energy and protein contents) on egg production pattern in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during onset of lay until peak production. In total 300 female quails were divided to three groups with 5 replicates of 20 quails. Each group was fed one of the following diets: 2,800 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME) and 18.7% crude protein (CP; High Nutrient), 2,700 kcal/kg ME and 18.0% CP (Moderate Nutrient) and 2,600 kcal/kg ME and 17.3% CP (Low Nutrient). All quails were fed a High Nutrient diet from the age of 6 to 9 weeks (50% egg production), and then replaced with the treatment diets for those three groups. The egg production was recorded daily. All groups of quails produced similar egg production from week 6 to 9 since they received the same diet. On the later phase, the quails fed Moderate Nutrient generated higher egg production (P<0.05) from week 12 to week 14 compared with those fed High and Low Nutrient diets. Interestingly, both High and Low Nutrient generated the similar production. Furthermore, the overall egg production from week 6 to week 14 in Moderate Nutrient was 10.3-11.8% higher (P<0.05) than High and Low Nutrient (Table 2). The egg production curves indicated that soon after the beginning of lay, production quickly reached 60%. Production rose sharply and reached the peak of more than 80% in week 13, represented good egg production patterns. The trends in egg production curves were not affected by the nutrient contents in all three groups. The peaks of egg production were obtained at between 84-89 days of age (week 13). Thus, feeding with 2,800 kcal/kg ME and 18% protein generated the best egg production from week 12-14 as well as average overall production.