Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Haematology of Grower Japanese Quails as Affected by Processing Methods of African Breadfruit (<i>Treculia africana</i>) Seed

Abstract

A total of two hundred seventy growing Japanese male quail birds were fed with parboiled (PB) and varying boiling time of African Breadfruit, ABF (Treculia africana) seed to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics and haematological parameters of the growing male quail fed the African Breadfruit seed. Six dietary treatments with a control treatment (T₁) without ABF, parboiled  ABFat100^oC(T₂) and four varying cooking intervals of 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes  starting from time of boiling representing T₃, T₄, T₅ and T₆ respectively were  investigated. The birds were fed the experimental diet from 2-6weeks. Data were collected and analyzed for carcass characteristics and haematology parameters with 9 birds representing a treatment in a complete randomized design. Results shows that performance parameters of final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cost/kg weight gain had significant (P<0.05) differences however, initial bodyweight, total feed intake and daily feed intake had no significant (P>0.05) difference. The carcass and visceral organs all had significant (P<0.05) differences with PB treatment having better carcass characteristics. Most of haematological parameters measured were significantly (P<0.05) different although PCV, RBC, heterophil and MCV had no (P>0.05) difference. It can be concluded that cooking African Breadfruit at parboiling time is adequate for quails performance no adverse health implications.

Key words:African Breadfruit, Performance, Carcass, Quails