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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Structure and function of the shell gland in Japanese Quail under different levels of dietary calcium(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1994) Philomina, P T; KAU; Ramakrishna Pillai, M GLiterature available on the physiological aspects of egg production in Japaneese quail is scanity and many lacunae exist in the knowledge of various mechanisms involved in the formation of egg. Under the modern practice of intensive quail husbandry it is often found that the egg shells of Japanese quail are becoming thinner, more gragile and easily broken. Consequently, safety in transportation and marketability of these eggs are considerably reduced. Hence it was thought worthwhile to investigate some of the factors involved in egg production, more especially the egg shell formation. In the present investigation attempts were made to elucidate the mechanism of the egg shell formation with respect to the structural and functional peculiarities of the shell gland in Japaneese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) calcium. The study envisaged histological, histochemical peculiarities of the shell gland; the mineral (calcium and inorganic phosphorus) and enzyme (ALP and ACP) profile of the plasma and shell gland. The influence of dietary calcium on the body weight, development of the oviduct, egg production and egg shell quality was also investigated. Japanese quails attained sexual maturity early at the sixth week of age, by which time they attained a body weight of 131.8 + 0.600 g and started egg production. The birds grew at a faster rate in the early weeks, came into peak production at the 16th week of age, and the trend continued even at the 24th week of age, with a body weight of 198.033 + 0.220 g for good production. The length and weight of the oviduct increased from the sixth to 24th week of age. The variation in length and weight of the shell gland from the 16th and 24th week was marginal. Growth rate was almost marginal from the 16th week onwards. Histologically the quail shell gland showed similar structure to that of the domestic fowl except for the tunca muscularis. The inner circular muscle layer was thicker and outer longitudinal layer was thinner. As age advanced, at the 16th and 24th week of age the mucosal folding were numerous. The inner circular muscle layer became thicker and even this layer invaded the lamina propria and the vascularity in the connective tissue core of the tunica muscularis increased. The egg quality traits such as egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, shape index and specific gravity markedly improved as age advanced from the sixth to 16th week. From the 16th to 24th week the egg quality was lowered with an increase in egg weight, lowering of shell weight, shell thickness and specific gravity. Dietary calcium significantly influenced the body weight, egg production, shell quality,histology of the shell gland and mineral and enzyme profile of plasma. Birds exhibited optimum growth, and production at higher pre-laying and layer dietary calcium levels. Prelaying dietary calcium level of 0.7 to 0.9 percent and layer level of 3 percent were found to be optimum in quail ration. As far as the oviduct development is concerned, pre-laying dietary calcium had negligible influence, whereas layer dietary calcium level of 2.5 percent was just sufficient for optimum development of oviduct/ shell gland. Histologically the only difference noticed in highest (3.5%) layer dietary calcium fed quails was the increased vascularity in their connective tissue core of the lamina propria of the shell gland. There was a positive correlation between dietary calcium (pre-laying and layer) level and plasma calcium concentration at the sixth, and 16th week of age. But at the 24th week of age only layer dietary calcium induced such a relationship. As age advanced, pre-laying dietary calcium became insignificant. In the case of plasma inorganic phosphate concentration, there existed a negative correlation to that of pre-laying and layer dietary calcium levels at all the age groups of quails. It may be emphasized in this context that the extent of the negative correlation existing between plasma inorganic phosphate and prelaying and layer dietary calcium levels was considerably lower. The concentration of calcium and inorganic phosphorous in the plasma and shell gland were uninfluenced by the age. The shell gland concentration of calcium and inorganic phosphorous was lower compared to their plasma level. These minerals were not stored in the shell gland for shell calcification. At the time of calcification calcium was transferred from the plasma (blood) to the shell gland and then to the shell. Dietary calcium significantly influenced the plasma concentration. Plasma enzyme concentration of ALP and ACP was negatively correlated with dietary calcium (pre-laying and layer) levels, whereas the shell gland ALP concentration was uninfluenced by the dietary calcium and age and its concentration was very low compared to those of plasma ALP and shell gland ACP. Shell gland ALP was unimportant in shell formation. Histochemical localization of the shell gland ALP was in confirmation with that of quantitative estimation. Shell gland ACP content was comparatively higher than ALP, which was also in agreement with histochemical localization. Shell gland ACP may be involved in the transfer of calcium from the plasma to the shell through the shell gland mucosa, since its level in the shell gland was higher and influenced by dietary calcium levels were related to the cyclic medullary bone formation and resorption which is a normal feature in laying birds. Variations in the dietary calcium induced changes in the concentration of plasma minerals and enzymes supported the view that dietary calcium is important for proper shell formation. Higher level of dietary calcium improved the egg shell quality, egg production and body weight. Pre-laying dietary calcium level of 0.7 to 0.9 percent and layer level of 3 percent were found to be optimum in quail ration.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of dietary supplementation of protein and iodine on tapioca toxicity(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Abdul Latheef; KAU; Ramakrishna Pillai, M GA three phase experiment was carried out to assess the level of cyanogenic glycoside (CNG) content in seven varieties of tapioca, its removal by various processing methods and its effect on metabolism in rats and kids. The role of dietary protein and iodine in modifying the deleterious effects of cyanide v/as investigated. Histopathological studies on the liver, pancreas and heart were also carried out in rats. The first phase of the study revealed that CNG content in terms of cyanide varied from 40.86 + 2.79 to 186.31 + 5.30 ug/g of fresh tuber with the lowest concentration in 'M-4' and higher concentrations in 'H-165' and 'Karkidakkan'. Processings like boiling and sun drying lowered the CNG content by about 50 per cent of the original. In the second phase 60 male albino Wistar rats, divided into six groups were given the following diet. Group I - Protein = 15%; Tapioca = Nil; Iodine = Nil Group II - Protein = 15%; Tapioca = 30%; Iodine = Nil Group III - Protein = 7.5%; Tapioca = 30%; Iodine = Nil Group IV - Protein = 7-5%; Tapioca v/ithout HCN = 30%; Iodine = Nil Group V - Protein = 15%; Tapioca = 30%; Iodine = 0.17 mg/kg Group VI - Protein = 22-5%; Tapioca = 30%; Iodine = 0.17 mg/kg Performance of rats was evaluated by recording growth rate, feed consumption and feed efficiency for a period of 12 weeks. Dry matter digestibility was also determined over a period of 24 h. At the end of 10th, 11th and 12th week of the study the rats were sacrificed and endocrinological, biochemical and histopathological evaluation of blood/serum and tissues were made. Performance of rats v/as poor on tapioca-based diet not supplemented with iodine (Groups II and III). Rats fed on protein deficient diet in the presence of cyanide containing tapioca were the most affected (Group III) . However, there was no significant variation in the performance in Groups V and VI compared to Group I when tapioca-based diet were supplemented with iodine. The digestibility of dry matter in six groups of rats was almost inversely related to the quantity of feed consumed. There was significant increase in DNA and decrease in protein content of thyroid thereby increasing the DNA: protein ratio, followed by extremely low levels of thyroxine and hyperplasia of the thyroid in Group III. In Group II alsothere occurred a significant reduction in the levels ofthyroxine and a resultant hypertrophy of the thyroid.ThesisItem Open Access Correlation between blood glucose level and liver glycogen storage in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Raji, K; KAU; Surendranathan, K PLiterature available on the physiology of Japanese quail is scanty. It is only in the recent years that any concentrated attempt has been made to study the various aspects of metabolism in domestic fowl. The present study was undertaken to probe into some fundamental areas of carbohydrate metabolism in Japanese quail with special reference to the normal blood glucose level and liver glycogen content of both sexes at various ages and physiological conditions. The study was carried out in four hundred and forty Japanese quails (both sexes) of the same strain (egg type) procured from Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy. In the first phase of study the estimations were conducted in 40, zero day old (on the day of hatch) Japanese quail chicks. In the second phase, 400, two week old quail chicks were utilized. The males and females were separated at four weeks of age and grouped into G1 (males) and G2 (females) comprising of 20 birds in each subgroup. The birds were maintained on standard quail rations in separate compartments of the cage. Feed consumption was recorded at fortnightly intervals. Twenty birds each from G1 (males) and G2 (females) groups were sacrificed at fortnightly intervals from the second to 16th week of age for the estimations. At the sixth week of age two sets of males from G1 group (20+20) and females from G2 group (20+20) were maintained on 50 per cent feed restriction for a period of four weeks. At eighth (two weeks feed restriction) and tenth (four weeks feed restriction) week of age twenty birds each from control and 50 per cent feed restricted birds of G1 and G2 groups were sacrificed for the different estimations as blood glucose concentration, liver glycogen content, liver weight and body weight. The results from the study revealed that the highest level of blood glucose was recorded at an age of zero day in Japanese quail (244.425 ± 2.204) mg/dl). A decreasing tendency in blood glucose level was observed as age advanced, may be due to an increase in the erythrocyte count of adult birds. In general female quails exhibited higher blood glucose level than the male quails. The highest content of liver glycogen (2.039 ± 0.102%) was recorded in the zero day. old quail chicks (on the day of hatch). The level of glycogen showed a decreasing tendency as age advanced, may be due to the utilisation of liver glycogen for the energy requirements of growing birds. There was no significant variation in liver glycogen level due to sex. However there was higher liver glycogen content in male quails at the age of two weeks. Liver weight and body weight showed a tendency of steady increase from the day of hatch to sixteenth week of age in both sexes. The females had higher liver weight as well as body weight than the males. The increase in liver weight may be due to the increase in the number and size of liver cells and also by excess deposits of energy required for growth. The maximum body weight recorded at the age of 16 weeks in both males and females were 170.500 ± 2.244 g and 184.000 ± 4.542 g respectively. Female quails had a higher body weight than the male quails especially from sixth week of age onwards, when they attained sexual maturity. Two weeks feed restriction, did not influence the blood glucose concentration and liver glycogen content in both sexes of quails, whereas a significant reduction was noticed in the liver weight and body weight of both male and female quails. Four weeks feed restriction in male quails resulted in a reduction in blood glucose level, liver glycogen content, liver weight as well as body weight. However, in female quails the blood glucose level and liver glycogen content were not significantly altered, whereas body weight and liver weight showed a significant reduction. The female quails were able to withstand the situation by lowering the rate of egg production. Blood glucose concentration and liver glycogen content exhibited a positive correlation in control as well as feed restricted (Two weeks and four weeks) birds. However, there was variation at different age levels in both male and female quails. The mean liver weight and liver glycogen content in both sexes of quails exhibited a negative correlation. However, there was variation in the correlation due to sex and age. Body weight and liver weight were found to be positively correlated in both sexes of quails at all age periods and even in feed restricted periods. It was also observed that the daily feed consumption in both male and female quails increased with the advancement of age and female quails consumed more than the male quails. Over and above the information obtained from the present study on certain aspects of avian carbohydrate metabolism, further studies are required to investigate the factors influencing the regulation of normal levels of blood glucose and liver glycogen in birds. The indefinite relation at different age periods observed in Japanese quails between blood glucose concentration and liver glycogen content and the ability to withstand the changes in the levels of blood glucose and liver glycogen, due to feed restriction, attract further investigations. The factors involved may be either the predominance of alpha cells in avian pancreas or role of kidney in gluconeogenesis. It will also be interesting to investigate the compensatory mechanisms that operate at the time of feed restriction in the regulation of normal blood glucose level and liver glycogen content.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of coconut oil and sunflower oil on plasma and liver lipid profile and production performance in Japanese quail (Coturrix coturnix japonica)(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Mini, K P; KAU; Philomina, P TThe role of dietary factors in the genesis and development of atherosclerosis has been associated with elevated serum cholesterol levels, both in man and animals. Coconut oil has been a dietary component for keralites from time immemorial. There are several reports implicating coconut oil (a saturated fat) as one of the major factors involved in the production of increased blood cholesterol level leading to the increased incidence of cardio vascular disease (CVD) in human beings and animals. Nosystematic investigation has been carried out so far to study how increasing unsaturation of the oil affects lipid metabolism in warding off atherosclerosis. In addition to the chain length of fatty acids their relative position in the triglyceride molecule appears to affect their potency for atherogenicity. Gingelly oil is commonly used as one of the energy source in poultry feed and sunflower oil is also gaining popularity now a days, since many reports indicated that feeding of unsaturated fat decreased the cholesterol content in the body. Hence it was thought worthwhile to study the influence of these three oils on the levels of total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and phospholipid in plasma and liver, the concentration of HDL – cholesterol and (VLDL + LDL) – cholesterol in plasma, weight of the liver and the level of total cholesterol in egg yolk. The production performance under these dietary oils was also assessed in Japanese quails by recording the egg production, egg weight and egg mass, feed consumption, body weight and feed efficiency. A total number of 72 (36 males and 36 females), four –week old Japanese quails of the same strain (egg type) and hatch were procured from the Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy and divided into three main groups (12 males and 12 females in each main group viz. G1,GII, GIII) and then subdivided to 12 males and 12 females as M-I, M-II and M-III (males) and F-I, F-II and F-III (females).The birds were provided grower ration upto sixth week of age and then adult ration, from the sixth to the 10th week of age in males and 16th week of age in females. The standard ration was incorporated with the different dietary oils at 2 percent level viz. GI (MI and F-I) with gingelley oil, GII (MII and F-II) with coconut oil and GIII (MIII and F-III) with sunflower oil. Feed consumption, egg production and egg weight were recorded daily and body weight recorded weekly. The eggs from the three groups (F-I, F-II and F-III) were collected on the last day of 14th, 15th and 16th week of age, weighed and stored at 40c for biochemical analyses. The male birds were sacrificed at the 10th week of age and females at the 16th week of age. The weight of the liver noted and plasma and liver stored at – 200C for analysis. Total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL – cholesterol (VLDL + LDL) Cholesterol and phospholipid in plasma of male and female Japanese quails were not significantly different among the groups, since the normal level (2%) of oils used in the present study was not able to exert any significant influence on the lipid metabolism to quails. The total lipid content in the liver in male quails was not significantly different among the groups. In the female quails the total lipid content in liver of gingelley oil fed group (F-I) was significantly higher than that of coconut oil fed (F-II) and sunflower oil fed (F-III) groups. Lower triglyceride lipase activity in coconut oil and sunflower oil fed groups, which causes decreased break down of triglyceride in adipose tissue and lower transportation of fatty acids to liver in these two groups. Irrespective of sex the triglyceride and total cholesterol content in liver were not significantly different among the groups. The liver phospholipid content in male quails of gingelley oil fed group (MI) was significantly higher than that of sunflower oil fed group (MIII). Sunfloweroil (unsaturated fatty acids) causes enhanced faecal excretion of free fatty acids. The total lipid, triglyceride, (VLDL + LDL) – cholesterol and phospholipid in plasma were significantly higher in adult female quails compared to male in all the groups. In the laying bird lipids are sysnthesised in the liver and transported to the ovary in the form of lipoproteins. This is the reason for higher total lipid, triglyceride and phospholipid in plasma of laying hen (VLDL + LDL) – cholesterol content was also higher in the female quails since they are the transport form of cholesterol from liver to the ovary. The total cholesterol and HDL – cholesterol were higher in male quails compared to females, since the cholesterol is not eliminated through the egg yolk and are mainly found along with the HDL fraction in males unlike females. The total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol content in liver of female quails were significantly higher than that of male quails. There was higher lipid synthesis in the liver of female quails under the influence of oestrogen. There was no significant difference in the liver phospholipid content between male and female quails . No significant difference in the weight of the liver among the groups in both male and female Japanese quails could be noticed. However, weight of the liver in females was significantly higher than the males in each group. There was no significant difference in the total lipid and total cholesterol content in egg yolk among the groups, at the 14th, 15th and 16th week of age. This was because the total lipid and total cholesterol content in the egg yolk has to be maintained at a constant level in order to create a favourable environment for the development of the embryo. Female quails attained sexual maturity earlier at the end of fifth week (38 to 41 days of age). Egg production started on the 38th day in groups F-II and F-III while it was on the 41st day in group F-I. The egg production was lower in gingelley oil fed group (F-I) than coconut oil fed group (F-II) may be due to lower mineral absorption in gingelley oil fed group. The egg weight was higher in sunflower oil fed group (F-III) than coconut oil fed group (F-II) since sunflower oil in the diet causes higher protein retention. The egg mass was not significantly different among the groups. However, the egg weight and egg mass significantly increased with age. There was no significant difference in feed intake among the groups in both male and female Japanese quails as the caloric value of the feeds were the same. Female quails had higher feed intake than males due to their higher growth rate. The body weight of the male quails was not significantly different among the groups. The body weight in gingelley oil fed group was the lowest among the female quails during most part of the experimental period, since there is lower mineralization of bones in that group. The body weight of female quails in the three groups was significantly higher than that of males. Feed efficiency was not different among the groups in male Japanese quails. Among the female Japanese quails coconut oil (F-II) and sunflower oil (F-III) fed groups had better feed efficiency than gingelley oil fed group (F-I), lower rate of absorption of minerals in gingelley oil fed group (F-I) may the reason for the lowest feed efficiency and body weight. In order to arrive at a conclusion as to which of the particular oil is ideal for health and for better production performance in Japanese quails, higher levels of oils are to be incorporated and a more detailed study is required.ThesisItem Open Access Quantification of amylase, lipase and protease in the digestive tract of Japanese quail(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Beena, V; KAU; Philomina, P TJapanese quails, being the most recently introduced species of poultry in India, are the least studied among the different domestic species of birds. For economic rearing of these valuable birds a thorough understanding of their basic digestive processes is essential. Keeping this point in view an attempt; was made to study the digestive physiology of adult Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) especially the quantification of digestive enzymes like amylase, protease (pepsin) and lipase of different regions of digestive tract, the determination of pH of the contents of crop, proventriculus, gizzard and small intestine and the feed passage rate (FPR). One hundred and ninety two, six-week old Japanese quails of the same strain (egg type) were selected, at random, from the Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy and maintained on standard, identical managemental and feeding conditions in cage system for a period of two weeks in order to stabilize the experimental conditions in the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. A batch of 24 birds (12 males and 12 females) of the same hatch were subjected for the quantification of the specific digestive enzyme in a particular region of the digestive system. Seven batches of 24 birds (a total number of 168 birds) were selected at weekly interval from the poultry farm for quantifying the different enzymes in specific regions. The eighth batch of 12 males and 12 females of the same hatch was utilized for studying the feed passage rate (FPR). From this last batch, 12 birds were randomly selected and utilized for estimation of pH of the contents of different regions (crop, proventriculus, gizzard and small intestine) of the digestive tract. Each batch of 24 Japanese quails (12 males and 12 females) were sacrificed when they attained eight weeks of age for the quantification of the digestive enzymes (amylase, acid protease and lipase) in specific areas of the digestive system. The enzymes were quantified in the tissue homogenate of the respective tissues. Amylase activity was estimated in the mucous membrane of crop and small intestine, pancreas and gall bladder bile. Quantification of acid protease (pepsin) was conducted in the mucous membrane of proventriculus. Lipase was quantified in the pancreas as well as small intestinal mucous membrane. The data obtained were analysed statistically. From the results of the study it was observed that crop mucosa of both sexes of quails showed an appreciable amount of amylase activity and the activity in males was significantly (P≤0.01) higher (47.9) ± 10.49 S U/g of tissue) than in females (13.26 ± 4.46 S u/g of tissue). In adult Japanese quails, when the values for both the sexes were pooled, the activity was found to be 30.62 ± 6.65 S U/g of tissue. The activity of amylase was independent of the presence of food in the crop. In pancreatic tissue also, amylase activity was significantly (P≤0.01) higher in males (59.89 ± 3.36 S U./g of tissue) than in females (38.72 ± 2.59 S U/g of tissue). When both the sexes were taken together, the overall value of pancreatic amylase was 49.30 ± 3.03 S U/g of tissue. The ( value was higher than that of the crop. The bile from gall bladder of ma Le Japanese quails exhibited, a higher P≤0.05) mean amylase activity (156.23 ± 27.72 S U/g of tissue) compared to that of female quails (87.65 ± 14.36 S.U/g of tissue). The pooled mean value of both sexes was found to be 121.93 ± 16.86 SU/g of tissue, indicating an appreciably high amylase activity in the bile of Japanese quail. The amylase activity in the small intestinal mucous membrane of males (234.38 ± 38.96 S U/g' of tissue) was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than that of females (103.23 ± 8.08 S U/g of tissue). The pooled mean value of amylase activity in small intestinal mucous membrane of both the sexes of Japanese quails was 168.81 ± 23.78 S U/g of tissue. When the amylase activity in different areas of digestive system as crop, pancreas, bile and small intestine was compared in both sexes of birds, it was observed that the highest value was noticed in the male birds. It was also observed that when the birds (both males and females) were maintained on identical ration and managemental conditions, ma ;e birds preferred coarser particles of maize where as females preferred finer particles of oil cakes. So the increased amylase activity in different regions of male quails, might be a normal response to the increased intake of carbohydrates. In adult birds, intestinal mucous membrane exhibited the highest amylase activity and the crop mucosa exhibited 'the lowest activity indicating that digestion of starch starts in the crop with salivary amylase and completion of starch occurs in the small intestine with the help of amylase derived from pancreas, bile and small intestine. There was a negative correlation between the pancreatic weight and amylase activity with the correlation in males as -0.975 and as -0.968 in females. This indicated that simple homogenisation might not have liberated the intracellularly accumulated enzyme completely and that the pancreatic weight is mainly contributed by the intracellularly accumulated enzyme. The acid protease (pepsin) activity of proventricular mucous membrane of male quails was found to be 185.67 ± 11.54 PU/g of tissue and that of female quails was 223.31 ± 38.91 P U/g of tissue. Though statistically nonsignificant, females exhibited a slightly higher value than the males. It might be a response to the increased intake of protein rich finer particles of oil cakes of feed by the females. The pooled mean value for pepsin activity when both the sexes taken together was 204.48 ± 17.97 P u/g of tissue. The lipase activity, of pancreas was quantified to 73.37 ± 7.78 L u/g of tissue in males and 38.40 ± 3.39 L U/g of tissue in females, the males had a significantly (P≤0.01) higher value. The intestinal mucous membrane exhibited a significantly higher (P≤0.05) lipase activity in the males (38.80 ± 10.93 L.U/g of tissue) than in the females (12.44 ± 4.15 L U/g of tissue). In the present study, it was also observed that the female birds preferred fat rich finer particles of oil cakes than the males. Since fat is the high energy yielding nutrient, the quantity in excess present in the diet is prevented from hydrolysis by the reduced lipase secretion in the females. The overall lipase activity in pancreas and small intestinal mucous membrane (when both the sexes were taken together) were 55.88 ± 5.52 L U/g of tissue and 25.62 ± 6.34 L U/g of tissue respectively, indicating that pancreas was the major site of lipase origin in quails. There was a negative correlation of pancreatic weight to lipase activity in both sexes, with a correlation value of -0.882 in males and -0.499 in females. As in case of amylase, homogenisation might not have liberated the intracellularly accumulated lipase too. The pH values recorded in the contents of crop, proventiculus, gizzard and small intestine (duodenum) were 5.00 ± 0.26, 4.30± 0.11, 3.50 ± 0.17 and 6.50 ± o. 00 respectively. The observed pH in crop is suggestive of the amylolytic digestion in the crop. Though proventriculus is the site of secretion of pepsin, the comparatively lower pH (acidic pH) recorded in the gizzard suggested that acid proteolytic digestion was undergoing in a better way in the gizzard. The intestinal contents exhibited the highest pH than the upper regions of the digestive tract indicating that the enzymes of pancreas, bile and small intestine require a comparatively higher pH for eliciting the optimum action in the small intestine, thereby hydrolysis of starch, protein and lipids are completed. The feed passage rate (FPR) was recorded in the last batch of 24 adult Japanese quails (12 males and 12 females) by using carmine as the indicator dye and the time taken for the first appearance of coloured excreta was taken as the index. The recorded FPR values for males and females were 120.5 ± 10.88 min and 92.4 ± 10.65 min respectively. The difference in FPR between male and female birds was not significant. The overall FPR (when data from both the sexes were pooled) was found to be 106.5 ± 8.00 min. The time taken for complete disappearance of the dye from the excreta was found to vary from 249.min to even more than a day. Though nonsignificant, the difference in FPR values observed between males and females may be due to the difference in their body weight. The results of the present study provide informations on the relative functional importance of enzymes such as amylase, protease and lipase at different regions of digestive tract of Japanese quails. The study also throws light on the pH in different regions of the digestive tract as well as transit time of feed in Japanese quails. These informations may be of use in understanding the physiology of digestion and formulation of quail rations. The observation during the course of this experiment of the preferential uptake of feed particle by male and female quails is interesting warranting further studies on feed intake behaviour in Japanese quails.
