Volume 15, Issue 43 (4-2024)
rap 2024, 15(43): 66-74 |
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Rashidi A, Sharifi D, Alizadeh Masoule A R, Najafi A. (2024). Effect of Different Levels of Digestible Valine in Low Protein Diets on Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Liver, and Magnum Histology in Growing Japanese Quails. rap. 15(43), 66-74.
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1395-en.html
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1395-en.html
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (273 Views)
Extended Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: Japanese quail has a rapid growth rate (3 to 4 generations per year) and is relatively resistant to many diseases. Due to its high productivity, it has gained importance as an animal model in biological and genetic studies worldwide. Nutrition is a key factor that affects production efficiency in quails. Japanese quails require a diet that contains high-quality protein and a balanced profile of amino acids. Branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) not only contribute to protein synthesis but also play a role in other metabolic activities. Among the branched-chain amino acids, valine is a limiting amino acid in corn-soy-based diets. Protein is the most expensive component of the diet and has a significant impact on production costs in poultry. Nowadays, reducing the protein level in the diet has garnered attention for cost reduction in farming and for mitigating environmental pollution resulting from ammonia emissions and nitrogen excretion in the poultry industry. However, reducing the protein level in the feed without proper supplementation of amino acids can lead to decreased feed intake, reduced production levels, and changes in social behavior in birds. Published reports indicate that adding crystalline amino acids to low-protein diets in meat birds can have similar performance to high-protein diets at different growth stages. In most cases, valine becomes limiting with reduced protein levels in the diet. Considering the important metabolic roles of branched-chain amino acids, especially valine, in rapidly growing birds, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of using diets containing different digestible valine levels on the performance, growth traits, and histology of the liver and magnum in Japanese quails during the growth period.
Material and Methods: All experimental procedures for the care and use of animals in the present study were approved by the animal care committee of the University of Tehran. Thousand one-day-old quails were given 5 dietary treatments, such that each treatment was replicated 5 times and 40 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design, during 1–42 days of age. Experimental diets were formulated to meet nutrients recommendation of growing quails with different levels of dietary digestible valine concentration (0.75, 0.85, 0.95, 1.05 and 1.15 %) in diets with a low protein (17.7-17% protein). The experimental diets provided 2,9 kcal metabolizable energy per gram. Other nutrients were provided based on the recommended nutritional requirements for growing quails. Other nutrients were formulated based on the recommended nutritional requirements for growing quails. The experimental diets were adjusted for two age periods: 1-21 days and 22-42 days. The birds received 24 hours of light until three days of age, followed by 23 hours of light and one hour of darkness daily. The parameters investigated in this experiment included growth performance, feed consumption, conversion ratio and carcass performance. The bird weights were measured at the beginning of the experiment and on days 21 and 42. Feed consumption on days 21 and 42 was calculated based on the difference between the amount of feed provided and the remaining feed. The weight of dead birds was used to correct the amount of feed consumption. On day 42, one male quail and one female quail were randomly selected from each replicate and killed after 6 hours of starvation. Additionally, after sampling the liver and magnum tissues, their histomorphological characteristics (nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, diameter of sinusoids in the liver tissue; epithelial height, inner muscle thickness, outer muscle thickness, gland diameter, and gland depth in the magnum tissue) were investigated.
Results: During the breeding period, the quails that received the diet containing 0.95% and 1.05% digestible valine had higher body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), respectively. Feed intake (FI) and mortality were not affected by the treatments. Dietary treatments did not have any significant effect on the carcass characteristics (both male and female). However, the carcass yield was higher in male quails and the relative weight of breast and intestines was higher in female quails. In the treatments containing 1.05% and 1.15% of valine, the diameter of Liver cell nucleus and the diameter of liver hepatocytes were the highest, which indicates liver damage. The volume of sinusoids in female birds increased with increasing valine levels in the diet; So that in birds that received diets containing levels higher than 0.95% valine was more than birds fed with rations containing 0.75% valine. Based on the results of this study, different levels of valine in diets containing 17% crude protein had a significant effect on the histology of the magnum tissue (epithelial height, inner muscle thickness, outer muscle thickness, gland diameter), although only the depth of the glands showed a tendency for significance with 0.85% valine.
Conclusion: Based on the results, increasing the level of digestible valine in low protein diets up to 0.95% improves growth performance and feed conversion ratio in growing quails. However, it seems that the use of high levels of digestible valine in low protein diets (more than 0.85%) may lead to tissue damage in the liver and have a negative effect on growth performance. Further studies are recommended in this field.
Introduction and Objectives: Japanese quail has a rapid growth rate (3 to 4 generations per year) and is relatively resistant to many diseases. Due to its high productivity, it has gained importance as an animal model in biological and genetic studies worldwide. Nutrition is a key factor that affects production efficiency in quails. Japanese quails require a diet that contains high-quality protein and a balanced profile of amino acids. Branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) not only contribute to protein synthesis but also play a role in other metabolic activities. Among the branched-chain amino acids, valine is a limiting amino acid in corn-soy-based diets. Protein is the most expensive component of the diet and has a significant impact on production costs in poultry. Nowadays, reducing the protein level in the diet has garnered attention for cost reduction in farming and for mitigating environmental pollution resulting from ammonia emissions and nitrogen excretion in the poultry industry. However, reducing the protein level in the feed without proper supplementation of amino acids can lead to decreased feed intake, reduced production levels, and changes in social behavior in birds. Published reports indicate that adding crystalline amino acids to low-protein diets in meat birds can have similar performance to high-protein diets at different growth stages. In most cases, valine becomes limiting with reduced protein levels in the diet. Considering the important metabolic roles of branched-chain amino acids, especially valine, in rapidly growing birds, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of using diets containing different digestible valine levels on the performance, growth traits, and histology of the liver and magnum in Japanese quails during the growth period.
Material and Methods: All experimental procedures for the care and use of animals in the present study were approved by the animal care committee of the University of Tehran. Thousand one-day-old quails were given 5 dietary treatments, such that each treatment was replicated 5 times and 40 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design, during 1–42 days of age. Experimental diets were formulated to meet nutrients recommendation of growing quails with different levels of dietary digestible valine concentration (0.75, 0.85, 0.95, 1.05 and 1.15 %) in diets with a low protein (17.7-17% protein). The experimental diets provided 2,9 kcal metabolizable energy per gram. Other nutrients were provided based on the recommended nutritional requirements for growing quails. Other nutrients were formulated based on the recommended nutritional requirements for growing quails. The experimental diets were adjusted for two age periods: 1-21 days and 22-42 days. The birds received 24 hours of light until three days of age, followed by 23 hours of light and one hour of darkness daily. The parameters investigated in this experiment included growth performance, feed consumption, conversion ratio and carcass performance. The bird weights were measured at the beginning of the experiment and on days 21 and 42. Feed consumption on days 21 and 42 was calculated based on the difference between the amount of feed provided and the remaining feed. The weight of dead birds was used to correct the amount of feed consumption. On day 42, one male quail and one female quail were randomly selected from each replicate and killed after 6 hours of starvation. Additionally, after sampling the liver and magnum tissues, their histomorphological characteristics (nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, diameter of sinusoids in the liver tissue; epithelial height, inner muscle thickness, outer muscle thickness, gland diameter, and gland depth in the magnum tissue) were investigated.
Results: During the breeding period, the quails that received the diet containing 0.95% and 1.05% digestible valine had higher body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), respectively. Feed intake (FI) and mortality were not affected by the treatments. Dietary treatments did not have any significant effect on the carcass characteristics (both male and female). However, the carcass yield was higher in male quails and the relative weight of breast and intestines was higher in female quails. In the treatments containing 1.05% and 1.15% of valine, the diameter of Liver cell nucleus and the diameter of liver hepatocytes were the highest, which indicates liver damage. The volume of sinusoids in female birds increased with increasing valine levels in the diet; So that in birds that received diets containing levels higher than 0.95% valine was more than birds fed with rations containing 0.75% valine. Based on the results of this study, different levels of valine in diets containing 17% crude protein had a significant effect on the histology of the magnum tissue (epithelial height, inner muscle thickness, outer muscle thickness, gland diameter), although only the depth of the glands showed a tendency for significance with 0.85% valine.
Conclusion: Based on the results, increasing the level of digestible valine in low protein diets up to 0.95% improves growth performance and feed conversion ratio in growing quails. However, it seems that the use of high levels of digestible valine in low protein diets (more than 0.85%) may lead to tissue damage in the liver and have a negative effect on growth performance. Further studies are recommended in this field.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
تغذیه طیور
Received: 2023/06/18 | Revised: 2024/04/30 | Accepted: 2023/10/30 | Published: 2024/04/27
Received: 2023/06/18 | Revised: 2024/04/30 | Accepted: 2023/10/30 | Published: 2024/04/27
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