Influence of dietary lysine and arginine interrelationship on growth performance, carcass characteristics and immune response in Japanese quail

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of extra Lysine [LYS] and/or Arginine [ARG] than normal requirements of Japanese quail chicks and their interaction on growth performance, carcass quality, immune response and nutrient digestibility in Japanese quail. A total of 672 one - day old Japanese quail chicks were used in this study and randomly allotted into equal 16 groups [42 per each] of mixed sex. Group 1 was fed basal diet without supplementation [control]. Quail chicks of groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed on the basal diet supplemented with ARG at 110, 120 and 130% of the NRC [1994] requirement respectively. While quail chicks of groups 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were fed basal diet supplemented with LYS/ARG at ratios of 110/100, 110/110, 110/120, 110/130, 120/100, 120/110, 120/120, 120/130, 130/100, 130/110, 130/120 and 130/130. From the obtained data it was observed that ARC supplementation without LYS [groups 2, 3 and 4] showed non significant improvement in body weight, weight gain, RGR, FCR when compared with control and also supplementation of LYS alone [groups 5, 9 and 13] showed non significant improvement in the growth performance parameters. While, both ARG and LYS supplementation had no effect on growth rates as showed in quail chicks of groups 15 and 16. There was an improvement of immune response with LYS and/or ARG supplementation as noticed in increased phagocytic activity and HI titer in quail chicks especially in the highest level of ARG supplementation [group, 4]. Regarding serum parameters, there was an increase in serum total protein level in all groups fed on LYS and/or ARG supplemented diets when compared with the control and a significant increase in serum total cholesterol in the groups supplemented with higher levels of LYS alone [groups 5, 9 and 13]. Both LYS and ARG supplemented groups had some variation in concentration of SGPT and SGOT and the highest level was observed in higher supplement level of ARG [group 4], while serum uric acid concentration increased with the level of LYS and/or ARG supplementation. There was a significant increase lymphoid organ in quail chicks of group 4 which fed basal diet supplemented with LYS/ ARG at 100/130 when compared with the control and other supplemented groups. LYS or ARG supplementation had no effect on dressing and liver percent, while both of them improved thigh percent, reduced visible fat accumulation% and improved breast meat percent and LYS is more efficient for increasing breast meat when compared with control. LYS supplementation is more related to increase CP% in breast meat than ARG and higher supplementation of both of amino acids increase CP% in liver and generally that supplement had minor effect on the nutrient digestibility