Authors : Sibel Canogullari, Mikail Baylan and Tugay Ayasan
Abstract: In order to determine the threonine requirement of laying Japanese quails, one experiment was conducted using laying performance as parameters. In the study, a total of 40 female Japanese quails at 8 weeks of age were used. The quails were divided into four groups randomly. Experimental treatments consisted of four concentrations of total threonine using diets that ranged from 0.74-1.04% in progressive increments of 0.10%. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and light was provided 16 h (from 8.00-24.00) each day. Laying performance was determined daily by measuring feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (feed intake/egg weight), egg production (number and weight). The experimental period lasted 9 weeks. Increasing threonine level in the diets increased feed conversion efficiency, total egg production (g/bird/63 days), egg weight (g/bird/day) and number of eggs (bird/63 days). However, there were no significant differences among the groups (p>0.05). About 1.04% threonine level in diet increased egg production 9.79% and number of eggs 9.30% compared with the basal diet (0.74% threonine). The results suggest that the current NRC recommendation of 0.74% threonine for laying quails is not adequate to support comparable laying performance.
Sibel Canogullari, Mikail Baylan and Tugay Ayasan, 2009. Threonine Requirement of Laying Japanese Quails. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 1539-1541.