Substitution of limestone for eggshell powder in the diet of Japanese laying quails

ABSTRACT Were evaluated the effects of substituting limestone with quail eggshell powder on the zootechnical performance, egg quality, and economic efficiency of Japanese quails during peak egg production (11-20 weeks old). The experimental period was 63 days, divided into three 20-day periods. A completely randomized experimental design was used with five treatments (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% substitution of limestone by eggshell powder), six repetitions, and seven birds per experimental unit, for a total of 210 quails. Feed intake, production of egg/bird/day, egg production per bird housed, marketable egg production, egg viability, feed conversion per egg mass, Seedor index, tibia calcium content, and percentage of calcium excreted were determined. The following variables for egg quality were analyzed: egg weight, specific weight, percentage of egg yolk, albumen and shell, and shell thickness. Economic efficiency was evaluated in fresh and industrialized eggs. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS software, version 9.2 (2010). Substitution of limestone for eggshell powder had no significant effect on zootechnical performance, tibia calcium content, or egg quality. However, there were significant effects on the percentages of albumen and calcium excreted. The substitution of limestone by eggshell powder in quail feed resulted in higher economic efficiency indexes. These results indicate that the use of 100% eggshell powder in the feed of Japanese laying quails is viable.

摘要 本试验评估了在产蛋高峰期（11~20周龄）的日本鹌鹑日粮中，以鹌鹑蛋壳粉替代石灰石对其养殖生产性能、蛋品质及经济效益的影响。试验周期为63天，分为3个20天的试验阶段。试验采用完全随机试验设计，设置5个处理组（以蛋壳粉分别替代日粮中0%、25%、50%、75%、100%的石灰石），每组设6个重复，每个试验单元饲养7只鹌鹑，总计使用210只鹌鹑。测定指标包括：采食量、单只鹌鹑日产蛋量、存栏鹌鹑个体产蛋量、可售蛋产量、蛋合格率、蛋重对应饲料转化率、Seedor指数、胫骨钙含量及排泄钙百分比。蛋品质指标分析涵盖蛋重、蛋比重、蛋黄占比、蛋清占比、蛋壳占比及蛋壳厚度。经济效益分别以鲜蛋及工业化加工蛋为参照进行评估。统计分析采用SAS 9.2版软件（2010年版本）完成。结果显示，以蛋壳粉替代石灰石对鹌鹑的养殖生产性能、胫骨钙含量及蛋品质无显著影响，但对蛋清占比与排泄钙百分比存在显著作用。在鹌鹑日粮中使用蛋壳粉替代石灰石可提升经济效益指标。本研究结果表明，在日本产蛋鹌鹑的日粮中100%使用蛋壳粉是可行的。