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EFFECT OF FEED SUPPLEMENTATION WITH ORGANIC SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E ON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX JAPONICA) EGGS
 
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Publication date: 2007-12-31
 
 
Pol. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2007;57(Special issue 4B):377-381
 
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ABSTRACT
Effect of feed supplementation with organic selenium and vitamin E on physical characteristics of Japanese quail eggs collected at the beginning (1st month of production), peak (4th month) and at the end of laying cycle (10th month) was evaluated. Sexually matured quail females were divided into two groups (48 birds each). From the first day of live to the end of the laying period the control group (CG) was fed the basic feeds (appropriate to birds age), while the experimental group (EG) with feeds supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg selenium (as 300 mg of selenium yeast - Sel-Plex®, Alltech LTD, USA) and 100 mg/kg vitamin E (200 mg/kg of E-50 Adsorbate - Rolimpex S.A). For each group and laying period 20 eggs were collected and at the day of collection the following parameters were evaluated individually: egg weight; weight of shell, egg white, yolk and their percentage content in relation to the egg weight; height of yolk and egg white; width and color of yolk; thickness and strength of shell, as well as the yolk index and Haugh units. At the beginning of the laying cycle the weight of egg collected from both groups was similar (averaged 9.15 g in EG and 8.96 g in CG), and significantly lower (p≤0.05) (by 1.75 g and 1.97 g, respectively) when compared with subsequent analysed periods. However, in any period of the laying cycle differences in egg weight were significant. For all evaluated periods the yolk weight (4.3 g), yolk ratio (44.0%) and yolk index (5.21%) of eggs collected from the CG were higher (p≤0.05) in relation to the EG (4.1 g; 40.8% and 4.8%, respectively). Contrary to yolk, the weight and index of egg white in eggs collected from the CG at the beginning and peak of laying cycle (3.98 g; 38.9%) were significantly (p≤0.05) lower comparing to the EG (4.45 g; 43.1%). Regarding the egg shell weight, significant (p≤0.05) differences between evaluated groups were stated only at the peak of the laying cycle however, in the CG the shell index at the beginning (18,91%), peak (17.13%) and for the entire laying cycle (17.0%) was significantly (p≤0.05) higher when comparing to the EG (16.69%; 15.15% and 15.95%, respectively). Also the shell thickness of eggs collected from the CG (0.22 mm) was higher (p≤0.05) than in the EG (0.17 mm). Feed supplementation with organic selenium and vitamin E increased significantly (p≤0.05) the shell strength, for entire cycle it averaged 13.4 N for the experimental group and 10.5 N for the control group.
eISSN:2083-6007
ISSN:1230-0322
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