Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility, Carcass Characteristics, Hematology And Serum Biochemistry Of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Fed Diets Containing Rice Gluten Meal And Betaine Supplementation, During Summer Season

A total of 375 un-sexed Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks (5 days-old) were randomly allotted to 5 experimental groups to examine the effect of the inclusion of rice gluten meal (RGM) at levels of 2.5 and 5% and supplementation of betaine at levels of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg diet on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, hematology, serum biochemistry and gastrointestinal tract microbiota of growing Japanese quail. Quails were fed a basal diet and the other four diets contained 2.5 and 5% RGM with 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine supplementation. The results revealed that quails chicks fed diets included 5%RGM +0.5 or 1.0 g betaine achieved the highest (P<0.05) body weight at 5 weeks of age, quails group fed diet contained 5%RGM+0.5 or 1.0 g betaine recorded the highest (P<0.05) body weight gain at 1-5 weeks of age. Quails group fed diet contained 5%RGM+1.0 g betaine improved (P<0.05) DFI at all periods. 5%RGM +0.5 or 1.0 g betaine groups recorded the best FCR at 1-5 weeks of age. Improved (P<0.05) digestibility of CP and EE in all treatment groups. Quails fed diets contained 2.5%RGM+1.0 g betaine, 5%RGM+0.5 or 1.0 g betaine recorded higher (P<0.05) CF digestibility compared to the control group. The inclusion of RGM and betaine was lower (P<0.05) in abdominal fat and increased (P<0.05) the glucose levels compared to the control group. the quails group fed diet contained 5%RGM+ 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine significantly increased (P<0.05) WBC count compared to the group of quails fed diet included 2.5% RGM+1.0 g betaine. HB level of the quails group fed diet contained 5%RGM+ 0.5 or 1.0 g betaine was higher (P<0.05) than the control group. Dietary betaine supplementation increased (P<0.05) the lactic acid bacteria count and decreased (P<0.05) the counts of E-coli and coliform compared to the control group. Conclusively, from these study results, the combination of RGM and betaine could maintain the growth performance, carcass traits, and intestinal health also improve of nutrients digestibility and gastrointestinal tract microbiota of Japanese quails during summer season.