Semi-purified glycerin in the meat quails feeding

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of semi-purified glycerin (SG), and its economic feasibility for use in meat quail feed. Its effect on the performance, body chemical composition, and carcass yield were assessed. In experiment 1, 22-day-old quails, were housed in metabolic cages, distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three treatments, five replicates, and five birds per repetition, using 75 quails in total. Treatments consisted of a reference diet (RD) and two test diets (RT) in which 8% and 12% SG replaced the RD. The estimated value of nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) for SG was 2,476 kcal/kg. In experiment 2, 1320 quails (55 quails in each box) were distributed in a CRD with six treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of a control diet, based on corn and soybean meal, and five diets with increasing levels of SG (3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15%). There were no effects of SG on the performance variables. The cost per kilogram of live weight produced increased linearly (P<0.05) with the percentage of SG in the diet. The performance data suggest that SG may be included in up to 15% of the diet in 1- to 14-day-old quails. In experiment 3, 1032 quails (43 quails in each box) were distributed under the same conditions as in experiment 2. SG influenced linearly the litter moisture (P<0,05) and body biomass accumulated (BBA), and had a quadratic effect on feed conversion ratio and BBA (P<0,05). The cost per kilogram of live weight produced increased linearly (P<0.05) with the percentage of SG in the diet. Therefore, SG may be used to make-up 10% of the diet of 15-35-day-old quail.