The effects of triticale used in different amounts in laying quail rations on egg production and egg quality

This study was performed to determine the effects of using 40% and 60% triticale with or without enzyme instead of maize on egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg quality and hatchability in laying quail diets. In this study, a total of 160, 12-week-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used; birds with similar live weight and production levels were divided into five groups of 32 quails. Although using triticale at the rate of 40% and 60% in the diet of laying quails did not affect egg production, hatchability, fertility, egg specific gravity, egg shell thickness, the egg white and yolk index or the Hough unit, it did decrease egg weight (P < 0,05) and improve feed efficiency (P < 0,05). In the study, the addition of 40% triticale with enzyme increased the feed efficiency (P < 0,05) and egg production (P < 0,001) over that of the group without enzyme supplementation, but the addition of 60% triticale with enzyme had no effect on egg production. The highest values for egg production, egg weight, feed efficiency, hatchability and fertility were obtained by using 40% triticale with I g/kg avizaym. In conclusion, although 60% triticale with enzyme may be used instead of maize in the diet of laying quails, 40% triticale with enzyme was more effective for performance.