Nutritional compositions of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) breed lines raised on a basal poultry ration under farm conditions in Ruwa, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Proximate composition experiments were conducted to determine nutritional compositions of eggs from three Japanese quail breeds (Jumbo Pharaoh, A&M giant and Manchurian golden) raised under farm conditions in Zimbabwe. Crude protein (analysis of variance (ANOVA), F2, 33 = 4.13, p = 0.02) and crude fat (ANOVA F2, 33 = 7.14, p = 0.00) were significantly different among the three breeds. Total ash (one-way ANOVA, F2, 33 = 3.20, p = 0.05) was marginally significantly different whilst crude fibre (ANOVA F2, 33 = 1.05, p = 0.36) did not vary significantly among the quail breeds. Tukey’s post hoc tests revealed significant variation (p < 0.05) in mean crude protein content between Jumbo Pharaoh and Manchurian golden breeds. The Jumbo Pharaoh breed had highest crude protein content (13.07 ± 0.18 g 100 g−1) among the three breeds. Post hoc comparison test showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in mean crude fat content between the Jumbo Pharaoh and A&M giant breeds and also that of Jumbo Pharaoh and Golden Manchurian breeds. Jumbo Pharaoh had the highest crude fat content (11.90 ± 0.03 g 100g−1) among the breeds. We concluded that Japanese quail eggs contain favourable proportions of essential nutrients, particularly proteins for the human diet, and their consumption can contribute positively towards improved nutrition and food security in the country. Eggs from the Jumbo Pharaoh breed contain the most ideal proportions of nutrients among the investigated breeds. We recommend further studies to characterize specific nutrient profiles in Japanese quail eggs and comparison of their nutrient constituents with other commonly consumed poultry species in Zimbabwe. The determination of bioactive compounds in the quail eggs is also recommended.

Keywords

• breed
• japanese quail
• diet
• essential nutrient