Effects of the Gradual Incorporation of Cashew Apple Bagasse (Anacardium occidentale L.) into the Diet on Feed Conversion and Weight Parameters in Meat Quail (Coturnix japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1849)
N’Dri saint-Clair Amani *
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Animal Biology, Environment, Climate, Health, Engineering and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Aboubacar Sié Coulibaly
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Animal Biology, Environment, Climate, Health, Engineering and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
Kouassi Jérôme N'dri
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Laboratory of Animal Biology and Cytology, Nangui ABROGOUA University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Howélé Ouattara
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Animal Biology, Environment, Climate, Health, Engineering and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to assess the effect of incorporating cashew apple bagasse into the diet on feed conversion and weight parameters in meat quails.
Methodology: A total of 270 15-day-old quails, with an average live weight of 29.74 ± 0.66 g, were randomly allocated to three dietary groups, each comprising three replicates of 30 quails. They were reared for 3 weeks. Each group was fed a different diet: the control diet (At), with wheat bran as the fibre source; a diet with 25 per cent cashew apple bagasse (A25) incorporated in place of wheat bran; and a diet with 50 per cent cashew apple bagasse (A50) incorporated in place of wheat bran. The cashew apple bagasse was chemically analysed.
Results: Cashew apple bagasse was rich in fibre (117.0 ± 4.17 g/kg of dry matter) and total carbohydrates (709.2 ± 2.18 g/kg of dry matter). Despite slightly lower values in the control group (19.32 ± 3.55 g/day) and the A50 group (19.07 ± 3.89 g/day) than in the A25 group (20.89 ± 2.98 g/day), average feed intake throughout the entire experimental phase did not differ significantly among the diets (Tukey’s test, P = 0.79). The feed conversion ratios in the At (2.88 ± 0.14) and A25 (3.94 ± 1.22) groups were statistically similar and lower (P = 0.05) than that in the A50 group (5.54 ± 1.71). In terms of body weight, the quails fed the control diet had a significantly (P = 0.001) higher average live weight (214.56 g) than those fed the other diets. Average daily gain varied according to diet (P = 0.05): it was 6.75 ± 0.83 g/day for the control diet, 5.81 ± 1.85 g/day for the 25% diet and 3.86 ± 1.42 g/day for the 50% diet.
Conclusion: This study showed that cashew apple bagasse is rich in dietary fibre. The inclusion of 25% cashew apple bagasse in the quails’ diet resulted in a feed conversion ratio comparable to that of the control group. However, in terms of weight, the control diet proved superior, with quails having a live weight more than 25 g higher than those fed the test diets. The 25% and 50% inclusion levels had no positive effects on the birds. Further studies involving different levels of bagasse incorporation may help to determine the optimal inclusion level.
Keywords: Cashew apple pomace, feed, growth, quail, feed conversion ratio