Potential of Full-Fat Silkworm-Based Diets for Laying Quails: Performance and Egg Physical Quality
Yazavinder Singh,
Marco Cullere,
Davide Bertelli,
Severino Segato,
Giovanni Franzo,
Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono,
Paolo Catellani,
Cristian Taccioli,
Silvia Cappellozza,
Antonella Dalle Zotte
Affiliations
Yazavinder Singh
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Marco Cullere
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Davide Bertelli
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Severino Segato
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Giovanni Franzo
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Paolo Catellani
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Cristian Taccioli
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
Silvia Cappellozza
Sericulture Laboratory, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA–AA), Via Eulero 6a, 35143 Padova, Italy
Antonella Dalle Zotte
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
The present research was conducted to determine the optimal inclusion level of full-fat silkworm chrysalis meal (SWM) into laying quails’ diets, focusing on performance traits and egg physical quality. A total of 240 31-day-old female Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four dietary groups (12 replicates/treatment; 5 quails/replicate); quails were initially fed a standard commercial diet for pullets until 63 days of age. When oviposition started, the experimental groups received the following diets: a conventional corn and soybean-based diet (control diet—C) and three other diets, including 4%, 8%, or 12% of full-fat SWM (SWM4, SWM8, SWM12, respectively). Experimental diets were provided until quails reached 119 days of age. Birds displayed satisfactory productive performance throughout the trial. SWM12 and SWM8 had higher (p p p 8%) require special attention because SWM also contains anti-nutritional factors.
