I am indebted to Almighty Allah who enabled me to complete the research work and successfully write the dissertation for the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Poultry Science under the Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, CVASU, Chattogram. Debnath, Professor and Principal; all other DDPS staff of this university, for their advice, support, suggestions and encouragement during my study period.
Abstract
Chapter-I
INTRODUCTION
For the improvement and development of quail breeding, special attention must be paid to the nutrition of birds (Amoah et al., 2012). 5 | Dietary calcium is an important and essential mineral for bird development and eggshell quality (Ahmed et al., 2022).
Chapter-II
Review of Literature
Seashell
- What are the Seashells?
- Seashell Formation
- Types of sea shells
The mantle lies at the interface between the animal's body and shell. However, the significant depressing effect of the mineral feed on shell index and on albumin and yolk percentage is contrary to the results of Safaa et al (2008) regarding these variables.
Egg production I Size of egg
Albumen quality
Shell quality VIII. Nutritive values
- Egg production
- Haugh Unit (HU)
- Albumen quality
- Firmness of the albumen
- Egg Shell
- Shell weight, shell% and shape index of quail egg fed sea-shell calcium diet
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Source and form of calcium and phosphorus
- Intestinal pH
- Vitamin D 3
- Effects of sea-shell (cockle) as a calcium supplement on the growth performance (body weight, feed intake and FCR) of layer quail
- Egg production quality performance (HHEP) of layer quail and sea-shells as calcium supplement
- Shell weight, shell weight % and shape index of quail and sea-shell diets
- Haugh Unit (HU) Score of layer quail fed sea-shell diets
- Albumen weight, albumen % and albumen Index of layer quail fed sea-shell diets Kul and Seker (2009) showed a positive correlation between egg weight and yolk or
- Yolk weight, yolk% and yolk index of layer quail fed sea-shell diets
- Egg weight of quail and sea-shell
- Conclusions
The yolk index, defined as the ratio of yolk height to yolk diameter, provides an indication of the freshness of the egg. Shape index: Width of the eggs/length of the egg Standard shape index for eggs: 72---77. 18 | The outer surface of the shell itself consists of a mucus layer (cuticle) that is deposited on the egg just before laying.
This protein coating helps protect the internal contents of the egg from bacteria penetrating through the shell. The aesthetic quality of the eggshell is related to the quality factors that can be observed. Many factors affect the functional quality of the eggshell, mainly before the egg is laid.
Shell thickness is determined by the amount of time spent in the shell gland (uterus) and the rate of calcium deposition during shell formation. Also, the time of day when the egg is laid determines the thickness of the shell. In general, the earlier in the day or light part of the photoperiod, the thicker the shell will be.
There is also uneven distribution of the phosphorus in the inner and outer layers of the shell. The results of the previous study showed that increasing calcium pidolate from 0.25 to 1 g/kg in the diets (G2 to G4) of aged laying quails decreased the albumin index (Sarmiento-garcia et al., 2022).
Chapter-III
Materials and Methods
- Preparation of the experimental shed
- Collection of the experimental feed and feedstuffs
- Formulation of test diet
- Feed grinding, mixing and preparing the diet
- Management
- Floor space
- Feeder and drinker space
- Feeding and watering
- Lighting
- Immunization of birds
- Medication
- Sanitation
- Data and sample collection
- Record keeping
- Mortality
- Body weight
- Feed intake
- Weight gain
- Feed conversion ratio (FCR)
- Measurement of Egg quality parameters
- Statistical analyses
Seashell powder was used as a calcium supplement to formulate the ration or test diet to feed quails (Table 4). Samples were taken from purchased and hand-made diets before feeding the fawns to the test pen and sent to the laboratory for proximate analysis. Vegetable (Palm) oil is added in half the required amount by sprinkling it over the food mixture and then thoroughly mixed by hand as well as with a spatula. Food and drinking water were supplied to the birds ad-libitum throughout the experimental period.
The birds were exposed to 15 to 16 hours of illumination by adjusting the photoperiod of the day. Proper cleaning and disinfection of all equipment was performed before the start of the experiment. Feed and test diet samples were collected before feeding birds to assess the nutritional values (DM, CP, CF, EE, Ca, P) of each diet.
The average live weight of the quails was also recorded at the beginning of the experiment and at the end of each weekend. Weight gain was calculated by subtracting the initial body weight from the final body weight of the birds. Feed samples were taken from the formulated rations to test the diets before feeding the birds.
Pictorial Presentation of Activities
During Experiment
Chapter-IV _____________
RESULTS
Gross performances of layer quail fed sea-shells (cockle) supplemented diets
- Growth performance of quail fed on sea-shells supplemented diets at the last day (71th) of the trial
- Egg production performance of quail fed on sea-shells supplemented diets from d50 to 71 days
- Survivability (%) of quail fed on sea-shells supplemented diets from d50 to 71 days The response of quail in terms of viability fed with sea-shells supplemented diets was not
In addition, data on egg quality parameters of external and internal characters such as egg weight, shell weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, hen egg production (HHEP), shell weight percentages , weight of albumen and weight of yolk, shape. index, albumin index, yolk index and quail egg Haugh unit (HU) score are also presented below in this section. Quail growth performance results related to body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatment at 71 days (Table 6). The results of quail egg production performance expressed in terms of egg weight (EW), number of egg production (EP) and hen egg production (HHEP) % are shown in Table 7.
Similar result was also observed in EP performance of quail during the third week only in this study. Data refer to mean values of five birds per replicate from day 50 to day 71; T1 refers to the control or base diet without supplement, while the T2 and T3 diets are supplemented with 1.76 and 1.88. 50 | P a g e 4.4 Egg quality traits of quail fed diets supplemented with seashells from d50 to 71 days Results of egg quality traits (e.g.
Haugh unit (HU) score, shell weight, egg white weight, yolk weight, percentage of shell weight, yolk weight, shape index, yolk index) for quails from d50 to 71 days were shown in the three tables respectively. . No significant (P>0.05) difference was found between treatments in the egg quality parameters of quail at 1 week (50 to 56 days) of age. Data refer to mean values of four eggs per replicate from day 65 to 71 days; T1 refers to control or basal diet without supplement, whereas T2 and T3 diets are supplemented with 1.76 and 1.88.
Chapter-V
DISCUSSION
- Growth performances of layer quail fed sea-shell (cockle) supplemented diet
- Effect of sea-shells on the survivability of layer quail
- Egg production performance of quail fed diet added with sea-shells as calcium supplement
- Egg quality performance of quail fed diet added with sea-shells as calcium supplement
- Shell weight, shell weight % and shape index of layer quail fed sea-shell diets
- Haugh Unit (HU) score of layer quail fed sea-shell diets
- Albumen weight, albumen % and albumen Index of layer quail fed sea-shell diets Albumen weight (AW), albumen %, and albumen index were unaffected between dietary
In general, key performance indicators such as growth rate, feed consumption and feed efficiency of poultry can play a key role in measuring gross performance (Rezaei et al, 2004). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of seashells and their relationship to growth, viability, external and internal egg quality. The addition of shellfish as a dietary calcium supplement can affect egg quality, production and bird development (Ahmed et al., 2022; Sarmiento-Garcia et al., 2022). Laying hens fed extruded eggshell diets were comparable to those fed limestone or oyster shell (Arvat and Hinners, 1973; Vandepopuliere et al., 1978).
The improvement in egg quality characteristics of quail fed clamshells suggests an increased availability of calcium for eggshell formation, which is consistent with the previous studies (Attia et al., 2020, Wang et al., 2021, Sarmiento-Garcia et al. al., 2022). The main advantages of mussel shells are organic, naturally available, good bioavailability, high solubility and excellent gastrointestinal tolerance, which can promote its absorption in the intestine (Falguera et al., 2010). Moreover, it suggests that the inclusion of seashells in layer quail can improve certain parameters (such as appearance, mechanical resistance and functional properties) of eggs and bones (Agblo and Duclos, 2011; Al-Zahrani and Roberts, 2015; Joshi et al. ., 2019).
Round eggs and unusually long eggs look flimsy and don't fit well in egg cartons; therefore, they are much more likely to break during shipping than normal-shaped eggs (Sarika and Erensayin, 2009). The shape of the egg should be normal or egg-shaped. 57 | P a g e has been questioned, although for selection within a genetic line it may be appropriate (Silversides et al., 1993). Fletcher et al (1983) egg weight increases with breeder age and this may also affect egg components.
CHAPTER-VI
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A review of the results obtained in this study revealed that the provision of seashell-based calcium carbonate diets had no significant effect on the growth performance and viability of quail. But it has a significant effect on egg quality traits such as -, Hengehuise Egg Production (%), egg production number, shell weight% and shape index of egg without affecting other egg quality traits (egg weight Albumen weight, Albumen%, Albumen index). , Yolk Weight, Yolk%, Yolk Index) measured in this study. The present findings indicate that seashell-based calcium carbonate can play an effective role as an alternative or natural source of calcium for improving egg production performance and egg quality with reduced cost of quail rearing under farming conditions.
Based on the result, significant further research is needed regarding the limitations of using seashell-based calcium carbonate. Sea shells can be a great inexpensive source of dietary calcium for quail and other poultry birds. Although there are some limitations in controlling the huge demand for shells, appropriate strategies can be adopted to meet the demand for shells in the poultry industry. More research is needed to create shell-based, cheaper diets for the profitable farming of laying quail.
Further research should be conducted to pinpoint the optimal level of seashell-based calcium carbonate in a larger population of Japanese layer quail. Proper disinfection, lighting, ventilation should be ensured for quails in an open house, strongly recommended. Cannibalism should be controlled, which is a major cause of death of quail in layer stage 6.
CHAPTER-VII ______________
The effect of supplementation of two levels of calcium pidolate and two levels of 25-hydroxycholechaciferol on egg quality in commercial laying hens. The effect of dietary calcium concentration and particle size on performance, eggshell quality, bone mechanical properties and tibia mineral content in moulting laying hens. The effect of the calcium and EDTA content of cockle grit in the diet on the shell quality and laying performance of crossbred hens.
The effect of solubility and particle size of calcium sources on shell quality and bone mineralization, Journal of Applied Poultry. The effect of solubility and particle sorption of calcium sources on shell quality and bone mineralization. Combined effect of genotype, housing system and calcium on performance and eggshell quality in laying hens.
The effect of dietary calcium source, concentration and particle size on calcium retention, eggshell quality and overall calcium requirement in laying hens, Brits. Effect of calcium source and particle size on production performance and bone quality of the laying hen, Poultry Science. Effect of dietary calcium sources and levels on egg production and eggshell quality of Japanese quail, International Journal of Poultry Science.
