Effect of dietary supplementation of mannan oligosaccharides and acidifier calcium formate on the performance and carcass quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

Experimentation was performed to determine the effect of the dietary supplementation ofmannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and the acidifier calcium formate (CF) on the performance and carcass quality of the Japanese quail (Cotarrnix japonica). Three hundred 1-day old Japanese quail divided into four groups with three subgroups each were fed a basal diet that served as control, or a basal diet containing 6 g kg -1 CF or 1 g kg -1 MOS or 1 g kg -1 MOS plus 6 g kg -1 CF. The body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality were examined at weekly intervals. On day 42 of age the birds were slaughtered, the carcasses were processed and the carcass weight, carcass dressing percentage and carcass parts percentage were calculated. Moreover, the breast meat composition and its fatty acid profile were analyzed. The results of the experimentation showed that the addition of MOS in the feed resulted in lower (P≤0.050) feed consumption during the fourth week but higher (P 0.050) differences were noticed for the other examined parameters. The combined use of MOS and CF did not adversely affect the performance of the growing quail or their carcass quality.