Husk of Korean Pine Cones in Diets of Laying Quails

There was studied effectiveness of introduction Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) cone husks into diets of laying quails of Japanese breed as a source of natural amino acids, microelements and other biologically active substances. Experiment of 182 days duration was carried out according to the standard technique in four groups of 50 birds each kept in a cell battery under required microclimate conditions. Quails of all groups received the basic diet (feed), developed taking into account their age and physiological characteristics. Quails of 1st to 3rd experimental groups, unlike the control one were additionally fed with Korean pine cone husks in the amount of 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 kg/t of feed respectively. There was studied influence of different doses of the additive on laying quails egg productivity, eggs chemical composition and incubation qualities, diet nutrients digestibility, the balance and use of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus and hematological parameters. It was found that adding a new supplement in amount of 1.5–2.5 kg/t into combined feeds increased poultry egg production by 2.9 and 5.8 %, the intensity of oviposition by 2.0 to 4.0 %, egg weight by 2.70–4.71 %, total egg mass by 5.69 – of 10.83 %, yield of hatching eggs by 2.19–8.58 % and the hatchability of chicks from eggs laid by 6.3 and 8.2 %. At the same time, feed consumption per unit of production decreased by 7.95 – 18.18 %, incubation waste by 33.3 %. Feeding with pine cone husks in the indicated doses increased the digestibility of the diet dry matter by 1.63–2.16 %, crude protein by 1.28 –1.82 %, crude fiber by 0.76 – 3.03 %, the efficiency of nitrogen use for egg formation in 1.12–1.23 times. It was also revealed that feeding with the addition of Korean pine cone husks at the rate of 2.5 kg / t feed had a maximum positive impact on the zootechnic and economic indicators of productive use of laying quails.