Effects of mango peel ethanolic extract as antioxidant in quail diets on performance, carcass traits, and meat lipid stability.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of mango peel ethanolic extract (MPEE) as antioxidant in quail diets containing two lipid sources, on performance, carcass characteristics, and lipid stability of in natura and frozen meat. A total of 432 meat quails were used, males and females, from 7 to 42 days of age, distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 3 levels of MPEE (0, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) and 2 lipid sources (soybean and sunflower oil), totaling 6 treatments with 6 replications of 12 birds. In order to evaluate the meat lipid stability, carcass samples were used in a 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with 2 levels of MPEE (0 and 1000 mg/kg), 2 lipid sources (soybean and sunflower oil), 2 types of packaging (conventional and vacuum), and 3 storage times (0, 60, and 120 days), totaling 16 treatments with 6 replications. There was no effect of interaction (P > 0.05) between the factors on the performance variables and carcass characteristics. Oil types and MPEE levels did not influence (P > 0.05) performance. For carcass characteristics, it was found to be increased (P < 0.05) in breast meat yield due to the inclusion of MPEE. For the meat lipid stability, there was only an effect of interaction (P < 0.05) between type of packaging and storage time. The inclusion of 1000 mg/kg of MPEE provided greater meat lipid stability, enabling the use of common packaging for the storage of quail meat for up to 120 days.

Organic zinc and manganese and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol improves eggshell thickness in late-phase laying hens.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic micromineral zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation in late-phase laying hens' diets on performance, egg quality, lipid stability of fresh and stored eggs, and bone quality. The treatments were a basal diet and diets supplemented with 32 mg Zn-Met/kg diet; 26 mg Mn-Met/kg diet; 32 mg Zn-Met/kg diet and 26 mg Mn-Met/kg diet; 1500 IU 25-hydroxycholecalciferol/kg diet; 32 mg Zn-Met/kg diet; 26 mg Mn-Met/kg diet; and 1500 IU 25-hydroxycholecalciferol/kg diet. On performance, the birds supplemented with organic manganese had the lowest feed intake. Regarding egg quality, the birds supplemented with Zn-Met and Mn-Met, with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol alone, and with Zn-Met, Mn-Met and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol presented a greater eggshell thickness than those receiving the basal diet. Lipid stability of the yolk varied only according to storage time. No effect of supplementation was observed on bone quality. Supplementation with Zn-Met and Mn-Met, or associated with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol alone, improved eggshell thickness in aged white layers. However, the associated or isolated supplementation with these nutrients did not influence performance, lipid stability of fresh and stored egg yolk or bone quality.

Fresh and stored copra meal in meat quail diets.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the addition of fresh and stored copra meal to the diet of meat quails. Two hundred eighty-seven-day-old male and female quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments, in a 2 × 2 + 1factorial arrangement. Two copra meal types (fresh and stored) at inclusion levels of 12.5% and 25%, respectively, were added to a corn-soybean meal-based diet, with seven replicates, of eight quails each. Copra meal acidity index recorded oleic acid percentage increase from 0.47 to 3.03% after six storage months. However, regardless of storage type, its addition to quails' diet resulted in higher values of metabolizable energy, in lower feed intake and better feed conversion than corn-soybean meal diet. Copra meal addition to quails' diet did not affect carcass traits, liver and pancreas relative weight, and bone growth and quality. Although copra meal storage for 180 days resulted in higher free fatty acid content in the provided feed, it can be used fresh or after storage, in diet of meat quails from 7 to 42 days of age up to 25%.

Cashew nut meal in the feeding of meat quails.

A study was aimed to evaluate the effects of cashew nut meal inclusion (CNM) on nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of meat quails. A total of 432 meat quails with 7 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and nine replicates of eight birds each. Treatments were obtained with inclusion of CNM at levels of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 g/kg. According to regression analysis, the inclusion of CNM, at levels above 50 g/kg, provided a linear reduction in digestibility of dry matter and metabolizable energy of diets, linear increase in feed intake and an increase in feed conversion ratio, not influencing weight gain and carcass characteristics. Comparing the results obtained with the different inclusion levels compared to those obtained with the diet without CNM (control group), it was noted that diets with 200 g/kg of CNM inclusion, the dry matter digestibility and metabolizable energy of diet were lower and the level of 250 g/kg provided higher feed intake. Considering the results, it can be inferred that cashew nut meal can be used as a feedstuff in meat quail's diets at levels up to 250 g/kg.