Effects of Saline Drinking Water on Carcass Characteristics and Litter Moisture Content of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

Khalilipour, Ghadir; Maheri-Sis, Naser; Shaddel-Teli, Abdolahad

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2019.12968.1080

Effects of Saline Drinking Water on Carcass Characteristics and Litter Moisture Content of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran.

² Department of Animal Sciences, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran

10.21608/ejvs.2019.12968.1080

Abstract

Current study was performed to investigate the effects of added different levels of common salt in the water on carcass characteristics and litter moisture of Japanese quail. Six hundred one-day old Japanese quail chicks(8.61±0.21 grams) divided to six treatments and five replicates of 20 birds per experimental units, based on completely randomized design for 42 days. All treatments fed the same diets and only the amount of sodium chloride in the water was different. Control treatment consumed conventional drinking water containing 233 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) and other treatments consumed water supplemented with 1.32, 2.80, 3.80, 5.56 and 7.12 grams of NaCl per liter which were equal to 1233, 2233, 3233, 4233 and 5233 ppm for other experimental groups, respectively. At the end of experiment, four chicks from each replicate slaughtered and then carcass traits measured. The results showed that pre-slaughter weight, carcass and breast yield as well asdry matter content of thighs, breast, and ash content of breast,were significantly affected by water salinity. Higher amounts of TDS in drinking water often resulted in lower pre-slaughter weight and carcass and breast yield; but greater dry matter content of thighs and ash content of thighs and breast observed in tested Japanese quails. Litter moisture content also significantly increased by increasing TDS levels in drinking water. Inconclusion, in order to maintain carcass characteristics and litter qualityof quailsat the safe range, amount of TDS in drinking water should not be more than 2233 ppm.

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