This study examined the growth performance of Japanese quail as influenced by feeding regimens and dietary supplementation with Spirulina platensis (SP). A total of 324 Japanese quail chicks (one-week old; intiail body weight: 34.5 g) were haphazardly divided into 12 groups (27 birds/group) and each group had 3 replicates (9 chicks/each), involving four feeding regimens ad libitum (ADLIB), feeding on 85% of the requirements (85REQ), ad libitum within 16 hours/ day (ADLIB16) and feeding on 85% of the requirements within 16 hours/day (85REQ16) and three levels of dietary SP (0, 0.5 and 1%). Body weight (BW) at marketing and body weight gain (BWG) at the different ages were influenced by feeding regimen. Birds consumed 85REQ16 showed the lowest feed consumption (FC) at 1-3 weeks of age. During 4-6 and 1-6 weeks of age, quails fed on 85REQ and those of 85REQ16 consumed less feed. Quails of 85REQ16 exhibited the highest values of carcass, dressing and giblets weight. Dressing and giblets weight were differed due to the interaction between feeding regimen and dietary SP. Blood biochemicals studied were impacted by feeding regimen, except glucose concentration. Total protein, albumin and globulin levels were low in quails fed 85REQ. Quails fed 1% SP supplemented diet showed the lowest level of cholesterol and the greatest level of total antioxidants capacity (TAC). Most of blood biochemicals studied were fluctuated due to the interaction between feeding regimen and dietary SP. Lactobacillus count was the highest among the treatments as affected by feeding regimen. Lactobacillus and Enterococcus were increased as increasing dietary SP, while the reverse was occurred in Salmonella and Staphylococcus counts. Birds fed SP0.0 with 85REQ16 and those got SP0.0 with 85REQ had the highest (128.52 and 126.68%; respectively) economic efficiency. Conclusivly, quail could be kept under a feed regimen of 85REQ16, with dietary supplementation of SP for healthier growth performance.
Khalid Mahrose (Wed,) studied this question.