Effects of African Nutmeg (Monodora myristica) spice in aflatoxin-infected diets on growth Performance of Japanese Quails (Cortunix Cortunix)

Abstract

A research work was carried out to evaluate the effects of toasted Monodora myristica spice as feed additive in quail diet in a completely  randomized design. The proximate, vitamin andmineral composition and anti-nutritional factors, growth performance, cut parts and organ  characteristics, biochemical parameters and egg quality traits were evaluated in this study that lasted for fifteen weeks. A total of 120 day-old quail chicks were brooded for 14 days. Thereafter, they were allocated to four dietary treatments designated D1, D2, D3 and D4 also having 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% Monodora myristica respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times at 10 quails (2 males: 8 females) per replicate. Growth  performance and carcass characteristics study lasted for 7 weeks while eggs were collected for four weeks. Daily feed intake was reported to be 2.39g/bird/day, 2.83g/bird/day, 3.22g/bird/day and 3.15g/bird/day respectively for 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% Monodora myristica-flavoured diets. There  was no significant (P>0.05) increase in the daily feed intake though it increased only numerically as level of inclusion increased from 0% to 1.0% but decreased at the level above 1.0%. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the varying treatments. Average daily weight gains for the groups were 1.68g/b/d, 2.18g/b/d, 3.35g/b/d and 3.37g/b/d respectively for D1, D2, D3 and D4. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the cut parts and organ characteristics. From the results, Monodora myristica was not observed to be detrimental to the quails with respect to the weight of organs and cut parts. Dressed weight increased as level of inclusion increased up to 1.0% but then declined afterwards to 137.69g. Liver weights were 3.55%, 2.55%, 1.79% and 1.77% respectively for D1, D2, D3 and D4. Quails fed the control diet recorded the highest liver weight (P<0.05) of 3.55% indicating stress condition. The low liver weight in quails fed Monodora-flavoured diet indicates potential of Monodora to protect the liver from free radicals that cause stress. Breast meat was significantly reduced at 1.0% and 1.5% M. myristica inclusion

Keywords: Monodora myristica, Growth performance, Japanese quail