Wafer-type biscuit waste in meat-quail diets

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutritional composition and effect of different levels of inclusion of wafer-type biscuit waste (WW) in the diet of European quail on production performance, carcass yield and economic viability. In the metabolizability trial, WW showed 87.45% DM, 4,128.53 kcal/kg GE, 3,833.14 kcal/kg AME, 3,818.92 kcal/kg AMEn, 9.37% CP and 17% EE. The metabolizability coefficients of DM, GE, EE and CP were 93.20, 92.85, 93.01 and 47.16%, respectively. In the performance trial, feed intake decreased linearly (P<0.05) from 22 to 42 and from one to 42 days of age. Weight gain and feed conversion were not influenced (P>0.05) by WW inclusion. The WW inclusion levels did not influence (P>0.05) carcass yield. The diet with 20% inclusion of WW provided the best financial return. Wafer-type biscuit waste can be included up to the level of 20% in quail diets without compromising production performance, carcass yield or the economic viability of the activity.