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20131
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Subject: Poultry Science × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Eeffect of supplementation of yeast as nucleotide source on the performance of Japanese quail
    (G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2013-06) Prakash, S.; Palod, Jyoti
    In the present investigation, two experimental trials were conducted on 120, three day old Japanese quails (red plumaged) for a period of 6 weeks each, to study the effect of nucleotide supplementation as yeast extract on the growth performance, nutrient retention, carcass traits, meat composition, haematological, certain serum biochemical and health status related parameters, intestinal morphology and immunological status. In both of the experiments, experimental Japanese quails were randomly divided into four treatment groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4), each group having three replications consisting of ten Japanese quails each. The different groups were supplemented with nucleotides @ 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 per cent and 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 per cent in experiment I and experiment II, respectively. Growth parameters were studied at weekly intervals as well as for starter (I-II week), finisher (III -VI week) and overall periods (I-VI). Delayed type of hypersensitivity test was conducted on the 21st day of experiment I, by randomly selecting six Japanese quails from each group for the sensitization test. A metabolic trial of 7 days duration was conducted from 36th – 42nd days of both the experiments to determine the effect of nucleotide supplementation on nutrient utilization. At the end of experiment I on 42nd day, two Japanese quails from each replicate (six Japanese quails/treatment) were randomly slaughtered for carcass yield, processing losses, yield of cut up parts, organ weights and carcass composition. Representative blood samples were also collected for study of haemato-biochemical parameters and humoral immune response. After evisceration the intestine of the birds were carefully separated and the length of the intestine from duodenum to end of the rectum was measured using a measuring tape to study the effect of supplement on the intestinal gross morphology. A sample of two cm from proximal jejunum was collected and preserved in 10 per cent formalin to study the histological changes on the villous height, crypt depth and villous height-crypt depth ratio of the intestine. The results of the both experiments indicated that dietary inclusion of nucleotides in Japanese quails increased body weight gain, reduced feed intake, improved feed conversion ratio and performance index significantly (P<0.01), with best performance during all the periods was noted in group supplemented with 0.5 per cent of nucleotides. The nutrient utilization in terms of dry matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates were significantly (P<0.05) improved in Japanese quails of nucleotide supplemented groups in both the experiments. Utilization of crude fat content was significantly (P<0.05) improved in experiment I with all levels of nucleotide supplementation while utilization was not affected in experiment II. The dressed yield with and without giblet were not affected by nucleotide supplementation. Thigh, breast, drumstick and neck muscles weight were not affected by supplementation of nucleotides. Weight of back muscles were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in supplemented groups. However, wing muscles weight were significantly (P<0.05) improved in Japanese quails supplemented with 1.0 per cent level of nucleotide. Nucleotide supplementation significantly improved the liver and gizzard weight. Heart weight and processing losses were not affected by nucleotide supplementation. Fat content of the thigh and breast muscles were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by nucleotide supplementation. However, moisture, crude protein and total ash content of thigh and breast muscles were not affected. Haematological parameters such as TEC, TLC, PCV, Hb and MCHC values showed significant impact of nucleotide supplementation. Decreased concentration of serum glucose, serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increased concentration of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were noticed in nucleotide supplemented groups especially at higher levels. Protein profile showed significant improvement in total protein, albumin and globulin with higher levels of nucleotide. Serum creatinine and SGPT contents showed nonsignificant impact whereas, serum uric acid and SGOT contents were significantly reduced in nucleotide supplemented quails. Nucleotide supplementation significantly (P<0.01) improved both humoral and cell mediated immune response. Relative intestinal length, duodenal villous height and V/C ratio were significantly increased while duodenal crypt depth was decreased with all levels of nucleotide supplementation with best results at 0.5 per cent level of nucleotide supplementation. From the results of present study it can be concluded that, dietary nucleotide supplementation at 0.5 per cent level may be advised to improve growth performance, nutrient retention, lean meat production, intestinal morphology and immune status of Japanese quails.