The impact of different boron levels in diet on performance and eggshell quality of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of boron supplementation on the performance and eggshell quality of 162 breeding quails at 7 weeks of age. For this purpose, 9 different diets with addition of 0, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 120, 160 and 240 mg/kg B were used. The experiment was designed at 9 different levels of B, as 3 replicates, on 27 subgroups in total. Each cage compartment was accepted as replicate and 4 female and 2 male quails were placed in each cage. Water and feed are provided as ad-libutum to the quails that are housed in battery-type cages and the lighting was applied continuously. The final body weight (FBW) of the quails, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), egg production (EP%), egg mass (EM), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg weight (EW), egg specific gravity (ESG), egg surface area (ESA), eggshell weight (ESW%), eggshell breaking strength (ESBS) values were measured. The effect of the addition of different levels of B to the rations on BW, BWG, FI, EP %, EM and FCR was not statically significant, while effects on EW (p < 0.01), ESG (p < 0.01), ESA (p < 0.05), ESR % (p < 0.01) and ESBS (p < 0.01) was found to be significant. As a result, the 20 mg/kg B addition to the rations was sufficient for a good eggshell quality and performance, and it was observed that higher doses had a negative effect on performance and shell quality in general.

Keywords: Boron; Eggshell quality; Performance; Ration.