Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

The experiment aim to discern the effect of dietary incorporation of drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf mealon the production performance, nutrient utilization and feed cost economics of laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).  The study was conducted at Instructional Poultry Farm and Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. A total of 230 Japanese quails (182 hens and 48 males) at 6^th weeks of age in laying phase were randomly allocated into eight treatment groups having three replicates in a complete randomized design.  Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20. ANOVA, followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range test was used for multiple comparisons.  Laying Japanese quail of   treatment T₁ (control group) were fed a basal diet (starter and finisher), as per ICAR 2013,  whereas in  T₂ groupbasal diet was incorporated with Vitamin C @200 mg/kg, in T₃ group basal diet was incorporated with Vitamin E @10 IU/kg, and in groups  T₄, T₅, T₆, T₇, and T₈, the basal diet was incorporated with 1.0%, 3.0%, 5.0%, 7.0% and 9.0% Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM),  respectively.   The results showed that overall egg production (7^th to 20^th weeks) feed intake (g/b/d) was noticed significantly (P≤0.05) higher in T₁ (30.55g) and lower in T₈ (25.03g) group. A non -significant (P≥0.05) difference in between HDEP percent and HHEP percent was observed amongst different groups during whole experimental period. The average egg weight (g) and egg mass (kg) was observed significantly (P≤0.05) higher in T₆ (5%MOLM) and lower in T₈ (9%MOLM) group respectively. During whole study period, non- significant (P≥0.05) difference was noticed for FCR/ kg egg mass and FCR/ dozen eggs amongst different treatment groups. For nutrient utilization,significantly (P≤0.05) higher organic matter utilization (%) was noticed in T₅ (67.75±1.62) group but significantly (P≤0.05) improved crude protein utilization (%) was observed in T₆ (73.38±2.25) group. The ether extracts utilization (%) was found (P≤0.05) higher in T₃ (70.86±5.01) group followed by T₆ and T₄ group while lower in T₈ (58.14±0.31) group. The non-significant (P≥0.05) effect was seen by varying level of MOLM on total carbohydrate utilization (%) in different treatment groups of laying Japanese quail. Total egg production/bird was significantly (P<0.05) maximum in T₆ (80.95±3.55) and lower in T₈ (63.20±3.56) group as compared with control (72.61±2.61) group. A significantly (P<0.05) lowest feed cost/egg was observed in T₆ (0.74±0.04) group as compared to others. It can be concluded that 5.0 % drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal can be incorporated in diet of laying Japanese quail for improvement of their production performance, nutrient utilization and reduced cost of feed per egg.