The effects of dietary hot pepper Capsicum annuum waste powder supplementation on egg production traits of Japanese quail layers

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of dietary hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) waste supplementation on egg production performance and quality in Japanese quail hens (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 192, seven-week-old Japanese quail layers were divided into 4 treatment groups of similar mean weight (304±0.5 g), each comprising 12 subgroups (including 1 male and 3 females). Treatment birds were fed on experimental basal layer diet supplemented with 1, 2 or 4 g hot pepper waste powder (HPWP) per kg diet. The laying performance was determined by recording feed intake, egg weight, daily egg production, and biweekly egg quality. Results showed that HPWP supplementation to layer diet did not have any significant (P>0.05) effects on body weight and feed conversion ratio, while it had significant effects on feed intake (P