INFLUNCE OF DIETARY FAT IN PRESENCE OF VARING CALCIUM LEVELS ON SOME PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL HENS

S. A. Abd El-Latif*, A. M. Elkiaty , and Faten A.A. Ibrahim

*Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University

**Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University

ABSREACT

This experiment was conducted to evaluate some productive and reproducrive performances during laying period of Japanese quail fed dietary fat (0 and 4%) and calcium (2.5, 3.0 and 3.5%) levels. A total number of one hundred eighty male and female birds of 6 weeks old were used in this study. Birds were divided into 60 productive units, of 2 females and one male, each. The units were divided into 6 treatment groups, of 30 birds, each. The experiment started at 6 weeks and terminated at 27 weeks of age. The experimental period was divided into three phases (6 to 13, 13 to 20 and 20 to 27 weeks). A factorial arrangement (2´3) of six treatments was formulated to contain two levels of dietary fat 0 and 4 % and three levels of calcium (Ca) 2.5, 3, and 3.5%. Feed intake and egg production (number & weight) were recorded. Feed conversion (egg mass/feed), fertility and hatchability were calculated during the experimental periods.

The data showed that, birds fed dietary fat (4%) with high levels of Ca (3 or 3.5%) exhibited improvement (P<0.05) in egg number. Increasing Ca level up to 3.5% with no fat addition improved (P<0.05) egg weight, during the entire period (6 to 27 weeks of age). Feed intake enhanced (P<0.05) when birds fed dietary fat at all Ca levels (2.5, 3 or 3.5%) compared with other dietary treatments. The lowest (P<0.05) feed conversion efficiency was noticed when birds fed diet containing 3.0% Ca with no fat addition. Fertility and hatchability percentages were improved (P<0.05), when birds fed dietary fat with increasing Ca level. The maximum (P<0.05) values of these parameters were calculated for birds fed dietary 4% fat and 3.5% Ca.

In spite of the interaction between fat and Ca, data showed that, increasing fat levels from 0 to 4% enhanced (P<0.05) egg production, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and fertility. The feed conversion and hatchibility values were improved (P<0.05) by increasing Ca level from 3.0 to 3.5%.

Keywords:Fat, calcium, egg production, fertility, hatchability, Japanese quail).

INTRODUCTION

Fat is widly used as a source of energy in broiler diets. The addition of fat to poultry diets interferes with mineral metabolism, reducing calcium retention, and in some cases bone ash and bone calcium contents. (Waibel and Mraz, 1964, Whitehead et al., 1971, Hakannsson, 1975a).

The utilization of fat depends on so many factors such as, breed of bird (Katogole and March, 1980), the fatty acid make up of the fat (Sklan, 1979) the mineral (particularly calcium) content of the diet (Hakannsson, 1975b), fat levels in the diet (Abd El-Latif, et al.,1996) and age (Duckworth et al., 1950). The sources of fat (corn oil or animal-vegetable blend fat) effect on mineral metabolism. The only difference between the two sources of fat was thier fatty acid composition ( Atteh et al., 1983).

Atteh and Lessen, (1984), reported that, mineral content of the diets plays an important role in reducing the utilization of saturated fatty acids. The large proportion of unabsorbed fatty acids were present as soap. In addition, they found that, increasing the calcium content of the diets aggravated the problem with soap formation. Increased soap formation does not seem apperant with olic and linolic acid because even their soaps seems to be fairly well utilized. However, with palmatic and stearic acid, soaps were not utilized, accounting for the decreases in utilization of energy, crude fat and calcium.

Abd El-Latif (2000) found that, japanese laying hens fed high Ca diet 3.7% and injected with either 200 or 400 IU vit D₃ observed enhacment (P<0.05) in egg production (number & weight) and feed conversion. At the same time recorded higher values of calcium, glucose, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations in blood plasma. Also, Increasing Ca level from 2.5 to 3.7% also, improved (P<0.05) egg production, feed conversion and the concentrations of the previous blood metabolic parameters.

Current study was conducted to evaluate some productive and reproductive functions of laying Japanese quail as affected by dietary fat at levels of 0 and 4% or Ca at levels of 2.5, 3, and 3.5%.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Birds and management

One hundred eighty male and female of Japanese quails of 6 weeks old were chosen for similar body weight. Birds were divided into 6 treatment groups, each of 30 birds (20 females and 10 males). Within each group the birds were subdivided into 10 replicates (units), each of 3 birds (2 females and one male). Each replicate was housed in a separate cage. Birds were fed ad libitium. Fresh water was available all the time during the experimental period. Moreover, birds were reared under the standard managerial regime of light. The experiment was triminated at 27 weeks of age.

Six of dietary treatments were examined in a factorial arrangement (2´3) to contain two levels of dietary fat 0 and 4% or three levels of Ca 2.5, 3 and 3.5%. The main source of calcium in the diets was calcium carbonate. Diets were formulated to meet or exceed NRC (1994) recommendation. All diets were iso caloric and iso nitrogenous. Formula of the experimental diets was recorded in Table (1).

Table (1): Composition and chemical analysis of the experimental diets

	Treatments --------------------------Fat levels(%)--------------------
	0			4
	------------------------Calcium levels(%)------------------------
*Ingredients:*	2.5	3	3.5	2.5	3	3.5
Corn, ground yellow	59.75	60.65	60.35	49.75	49.5	49.00
Wheat bran	5.95	3.00	1.25	12.25	10.5	9.10
Soybean meal, dehulled (44%CP)	19.75	20.50	21.25	19.50	20.00	20.75
Layer concentrates(52%CP)	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00
Poultry fat by-product	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.00	4.00	4.00
Lime stone	4.30	5.6	6.90	4.25	5.75	6.90
Vitamins & Minerals mixture^**	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
Total	100	100	100	100	100	100
*Proximate analysis*
Crude protein	20.08	20.03	20.06	20.08	20.00	20.07
Crude fiber	3.22	3.18	3.12	3.03	3.01	2.89
*Calculated values*
Metabolizable energy (Kcal / kg)	2809	2818	2802	2845	2834	2821
Calcium	2.51	3.00	3.50	2.50	3.07	3.50
Av. Phosphorus	0.469	0.462	0.457	0.480	0.475	.471
Methionine&cystine	0.710	0.711	0.712	0.701	0.701	0.701
Lysine	1.06	1.06	1.07	1.06	1.06	1.08

** Each 2.5 kg of vitamins and minerals mixture contain: 12000,000 IU vitamin A acetate; 2000,000 IU vitamin D3; 10.000 mg vitamin E acetate; 2000 mg vitamin K3; 100 mg vitamin B; 4000 mg vitamin B2; 1500 mg vitamin B6; 10 mg vitamin B12; 10.000 mg Pantothenic acid; 20.000 mg Nicotenic acid; 1000 mg Folic acid; 50 mg Bioten; 500,000 mg Choline; 10.000 mg Cupper; 1000 mg Iodin; 30,00 mg Iron; 55,000 mg Manganese; 55,000 mg Zinc, and 100 mg Selenium.

Treatments

The dietary treatments were served as following:- 0% fat with 2.5% Ca, 0% fat with 3% Ca, 0% fat with 3.5% Ca, 4% fat with 2.5% Ca, 4% fat with 3% Ca, and 4% fat with 3.5% Ca. for treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5 and 6, respectively.

Measurements and determinations:-

The experimental period (6 to 27 weeks) was divided into three production phases (from 6 to 12, 13 to 20, and 21 to 27 weeks of age). These phases were presented the productive performance of laying curve.

For each replicate, egg number and egg weight were recorded daily. Feed intake per replicate was measured weekly. Feed conversion (kg feed/ kg egg ) was calculated by subtracting the male (one third) from the total amount of the feed consumed. At 13^th , 20^th , 27^th weeks of age 50 eggs within each treatment were collected and incubated under the stander incubation advices. After hatching chicks were counted and non-hatched eggs were broken to determine the percentages of fertility. The hatchibility was expressed as chicks hatched from fertile eggs.

Data were subjected to ANOVA (SAS, 1985). Comparison between treatment means followed Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Productive performance

Results of egg production (number and weight), feed intake and feed conversion were presented in Tables 2 and 3.

1- Egg numeber and egg weight:-

Egg number (hen/house) improved (P<0.05) when layers fed dietary fat (4%) with high calcium levels (3 or 3.5%), reaching to the maximam value when birds fed 3.5% Ca. This enhancement was observed during all eperimental periods except 6 to 12 weeks of age period (Table 2). Adding fat (4%) to Japanese laying hens diet improved (P<0.05) egg number. However, this parameter observed no significant difference when Ca levels changed from 2.5 to 3.5% in the diet (Table 3). The enhancement in egg number as a result of adding fat may be due to the higher utilization of poly saturated fatty acids for the adult birds than young birds (Polin and Hussein, 1982). Also, fats can serve as a source of the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K. In addition, the polyunsaturated fatty acid such as linoliec acid which cannot be synthesized by the animal and consederd as essential fatty acids. Therefore, these fatty acids are very necessary for the proper functioning of many metabolic processes.

Horani and Sell (1977) showed that addition of fat to laying hens’ diets had no adverse effect on egg production and livability. Also, the utilization of fatty acids by laying hens was independent of the dietary calcium levels, and the proportion of fatty acids in the intestinal digesta that was present as soap was low in laying hens compared to the situation observed in chicken (Atteh and Leesen, 1984). This situation probably is due to the ability of the adult birds to produce more bile acids than the chick. Katongole and March (1980) showed that bile salt supplementation reduced soap formation and improve utilization of tallow.

Table (2): Effect of the ineraction between dietary fat and calcium on some productive parameters of laying Japanese quail.

*Items*	*Age,* *Wks*	Treatments ------------------------------Fat levels(%)------------------------------
		0			4
		--------------------------------Calcium levels(%)-------------------------------
		2.5	3	3.5		2.5	3		3.5
Egg number	6-12	21.3±2^ab	15.7±1.9^d	17.0±2^cd		17.8±3^bc		22.6±2^a	20.3±3^abc
(Hen/house)	13-20	22.9±.8^ab	17.4±2^cd	16.9±1.3^d		18.9±1^bcd		22.6±2^abc	24.4±2.4^a
	21-27	21.3±.7^ab	19.6±2^ab	18.0±1.4^b		21.9±2^ab		23.1±1.2^a	24.8±2^ab
	6-27	65.5±.9^ab	52.8±2.3^c	51.8±2.4^c		58.6±5^bc		68.3±3.2^a	69.5±2.2^a
Egg weight	6-12	11.2±.5^a	10.7±.6^ab	10.5±1^ab		10.3±1.2^b		10.2±1.0^b	10.7±1^ab
Gm	13-20	11.2±.6^b	11.0±1^ab	14.6±1.5^a		10.6±1.7^b		10.9±1.2^b	11.5±1.2^b
	21-27	13.7±1.2^a	13.0±2^ab	12.2±1^ab		11.4±.6^b		11.3±1.3^b	11.9±1^ab
	6-27	36.2±1.8^a	34.7±2^ab	37.3±1.4^a		32.3±1.9^b		32.4±1.7^b	34.0±1^ab
Feed intake,	6-12	36.2±3	36.5±5	34.4±6		39.8±6		35.3±4	40.6±4
gm / 2hens/day	13-20	43.1±2^c	44.8±3^c	42.2±2^c		47.7±4^a		47.9±6^a	45.7±3^b
	21-27	45.6±4^c	46.1±4^c	42.7±3^d		50.1±1.3^a		51.9±6^a	49.7±2^b
	6-27	41.6±4^b	42.5±4^b	39.8±5^b		45.9±4^a		45.0±3^a	45.3±3^a
Feed conversion	6-12	2.3±.02	3.1 ±.04	2.9±.02		3.3±.04		2.7±.03	2.8±.03
(feed/egg)	13-20	2.5±.02	3.5±.02	2.7±08		2.6±.07		3.0±.04	2.4±.05
	21-27	2.4±.07^a	3.8±.09^ab	2.9±.06^a		3.1±.03^a		2.6 ±.02^ab	2.6 ±.02^ab
	6-27	2.4±.01^b	3.5±.08^a	2.8±.06^ab		3.0±.03^a		2.8 ±.07^ab	2.6 ±.01^b

a, b and c data in the same row followed by unlike letters differ significantly (P<0.05). ± S.E

Dataof egg weight indicated that, birds fed high Ca diet 3.5% without fat addition recorded the best (P<0.05) values (Table 2). As shown in Table 3, egg weight was improved (P<0.05) when Ca level was increased from 3.0 to 3.5% (Table3). This confirms the observations by Abd El-Latif (2000), showed that increasing dietary calcium from 2.5 to 3.7% in Japanese quail laying diet improved (P<0.05) egg number. Similar results were reported by El-Gindi, et al. (1999), they found that the rate of calcium at a level of 3.5% and vitamin D₃ at level of 800 IU / kg ration is adequate to achieve the best results and recommended from the economic point view. Also, this finding, may give approve to critical role of Ca in female reproductive functions (Roland et al., 1996). Moreover, Vohra et al.,(1979) reported that, the egg production was reduced from about 74% to 10% or 20% in the deprivation of calcium or vit.D₃for Japanese quail hens, respectively

Table (3): Effects of dietary fat or calcium levels on some productive parameters of laying Japanese quail.

		*----------------------------Treatments---------------------------*
	*Age,*	*Fat levels(%)*			*Calcium levels (%)*
*Items*	*Weeks*	0	4	*2.5*		3	*3.5*
Egg number,	6-12	17.99±1.8^b	20.23±2.6^a	19.50±1.2		19.16±1.5	18.69±1.0
Hen / house	13-20	19.05±1.0^b	21.90±2.2^a	20.90±1.2		19.83±1.3	20.63±1.7
	21-27	19.64±1.7^b	23.97±2.8^a	21.62±.1.0		22.42±1.6	21.38±1.9
	6-27	56.69±2.4^b	66.06±2.6^a	62.05±.2.8		61.43±4.1	60.65±4.2
Egg weight, gm	6-12	10.79±0.83	10.38±05	10.78±0.33		10.41±0.14	10.58±0.75
	13-20	12.27±0.44^a	10.98±0.12^b	10.89±0.16^b		10.95±0.19^b	13.04±1.2^a
	21-27	12.99±0.40^a	11.52±0.3^b	12.58±0.76		12.16±0.44	12.04±0.12
	6-27	36.02±0.85^a	32.88±0.74^b	34.25±0.7^ab		33.51±0.56^b	35.7±1.2^a
Feed intake, gm/	6-12	35.68±2.1^b	40.72±3.1^a	37.88±2.6^b		39.23±1.3^a	37.50±1.4^b
2hens/day	13-20	43.35±3.1^b	47.17±2.6^ba	45.47±1.9^a		46.34±2.1^a	43.95±1.7^b
	21-27	44.80±2.8^b	50.56±3.9^a	47.91±1.0^ab		49.05±1.3^a	46.18±1.6^b
	21-27	41.28±1.4^b	46.15±1.9^a	43.75±2.6^a		44.87±3.2^a	42.54±3.7^b
Feed conversion	6-12	2.83±0.02^b	2.96±0.04^a	2.81±0.03^b		3.00±0.01^a	2.87±0.04^b
(feed/egg)	13-20	2.91±0.06	3.02±0.02	3.08±0.08^a		3.25±0.24^a	2.56±.15^b
	21-27	2.68±0.06	2.79±0.09	2.71±0.16		2.81±0.09	2.75±0.11
	6-27	3.80±0.07^a	2.92±0.08^b	2.87±0.12^ab		3.00±0.05^a	2.72±0.04^b

a, b and c data in the same row under each treatment followed by unlike letters differ significantly (P<0.05). ± S.E

2- Feed intake and feed conversion.

Feed intake presented greastest (P<0.05) value when birds fed 2.5% Ca with 4% fat addition. However, the lowest (P<0.05) feed intake, was recorded for birds fed 3.5% Ca level without adding fat (Table 2). The positive effect on feed intake as result of adding fat (4%) to dietary low Ca level may be due to, that these layers trying to compensate the depression in Ca digestibility as a result of adding fat by increasing feed intake (Griffith et al. 1961). Feed intake was improved (P<0.05) with increasing fat level from 0 to 4% while, this parameter was diminished (P<0.05) when Ca levels were increased from 3 to 3.5% (Table 3). The depression in feed intake as a result of increasing Ca levels, may be due to that calcium carbonat including high levels of other minerals (example, magnesium) which reduce feed palatability and adversely feed intake (Roland and David 1986). Moreover, this result agree with the findings of Atteh and lessen (1985) they reported that increasing Ca content of White Leghorn laying hens diet to 4.2% resulted in a depresion in feed intake and weight gain.

Feed conversion, had no significant differences between dietary testaments during the periods from 6 to 12 or 13 to 20 weeks of age. However, at the last period (21 to 27 weeks of age) and the entire period (6 to 27 weeks of age) it could be noticed that increasing Ca levels from 2.5 to 3.5% in dietary fat (4%) improved feed conversion efficiency (Table 2). Also, adding fat or increasing Ca level from 3 to 3.5% improved (P<0.05) feed conversion (Table3). The negative effect of adding fat on feed conversation with high Ca level my conferm the advers effect of excess calcium levels on absorpation fat (Fleischmann et al., 1967). Hakannsson (1975) reported decrease in digestibility of fat with increasing in dietary calcium level.

Reproductive performance (fertility and hatchability)

Results of fertility and hatchability were recorded in Tables 4 and 5. In generally, fertility and hatchability percent values were improved (P<0.05) with increasing Ca levels in all dietary treatments. Layers fed dietary 3.5% Ca with 4% fat recorded the highest (P<0.05)values of these parameters compared with other dietry treatments (Table 4). The consistency of egg number trend and fertility or hatchability may confirm the beneficial effects of dietary fat or calcium on reproductive performances of laying hens. Adding 4% fat to Japanese quail laying hen diets, or increasing Ca level from 3 to 3.5%, improved (P<0.05) fertility and hatchibilty percent (Table 5).

Table (4): Effect of the interaction between dietary fat and calcium levels on some reproductive parameters of laying Japanese quail.

Items		Treatments --------------------------------Fat levels(%)------------------------------
	*Age,*	0				4
	*Wks*	--------------------------------Calcium levels(%)-------------------------------
		2.5	3	3.5	2.5		3	3.5
Fertility	12	71.5±2.0^c	77.9±2.1^b	78.2±3.3^b	81.7±2.7^a		81.8±2.4^a	82.4±2.8^a
%	20	81.1±3.1^c	85.3±2^a	82.8±3^cb	82.1±2.5^c		85.3±2^ab	86.0±3.2^a
	27	76.6±2.4^c	83.2±2^ab	78.2±2^abc	74.2±1.2^c		79.4±2^abc	85.1±2.7^a
	Mean	76.4±2.6^b	82.1±2^ab	79.7±3^b	79.3±1.5^b		82.5±3^ab	84.5±2.9^a
Hatchability	6-12	51.7±2.9^c	57.0±3.2^c	78.8±1.9^a	64.6±2^b		63.4±3.3^b	67.4±2^b
%	13-20	63.2±3.1^c	67.1±2.8^b	70.1±1.8^b	75.1±1.4^a		69.6±2.8^b	77.6±3.0^a
	21-27	60.0±2.3^c	74.8±1.9^a	73.7±1.7^a	74.9±1.6^a		74.6±3.1^a	74.1±2.1^a
	Mean	58.3±2.2^c	66.3±1.7^b	70.9±3^ab	71.5±2.^ab		69.2±2^b	73.0±2.9^a

a, b and c data in the same row followed by unlike letters differ significantly (P<0.05). ± S.E

Table (5): Effects of fat or calcium levels on some reproductive parameters of laying Japanese quail.

		*----------------------------Treatments---------------------------*
	*Age,*	*Fat levels(%)*		*Calcium levels (%)*
*Items*	*Weeks*	0	4	*2.5*	3	*3.5*
Fertility, %	12	76.57±2.3^b	80.4±1.2^a	80.3±1.1^a	75.9±2.1^b	82.4±1.4^b
	20	73.4±2.6^b	85.1±1.2^a	84.3±2^a	82.9±1.5^a	80.4±2.7^b
	27	75.4±1.6^b	81.3±2^a	81.6±2^a	79.4±1.7^b	79.6±2^b
	Mean	75.1±1.6^b	82.3±2^a	82.1±1.9^a	79.4±1.5^b	80.8±2.3^b
Hatchability,	12	58.2±2.9^b	60.2±1.5^a	68.1±1.9^b	69.2±2.6^b	75.1±1.3^a
%	20	69.1±2.7^ab	68.3±2.6^b	73.8±1.9^a	66.8±1.1^b	74.1±1.2^a
	27	71.9±2.1^b	74.7±1.9^a	73.9±1.0^a	69.5±1.6^b	74.5±2.1^a
	Mean	66.4±2.9^b	67.7±2.7^b	71.9±2.3^a	65.1±2.2^b	71.3±2^a

a, b and c data in the same row under each treatment followed by unlike letters differ significantly (P<0.05). ± S.E

The positive improvement in fertility and hatchabilty as a result of adding fat with high Ca levels may be due to, the essential components present in fat such as (vitamins and essential fatty acids) as well as Ca which go to eggs and play a critical role for embryo development. Ohtake and Hoshino (1976) reported that added fat to hen diets influences yolk fatty acid profiles. Also, Menge et al. (1965) found that hatchability in layers increased with increasing oils in the diet. Moreover, the deprivation of supplementary Ca recorded deficiencies resulted in reduced egg shell thickness, and female tibia ash, while not influencing ovarian and oviduct weights or testis weights and tibia ash of males (Vohra et al.,1979).

As is becoming apparent, we can concluded that fat and Ca levels had great influence on productive and reproductive performances of Japanese quail layers. The best improvement occurred when layers were fed on a diet containing 4% fat and 3.5%Ca.

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S. A. Abd El-Latif*, A. M. Elkiaty **, and Faten A.A. Ibrahim**