Effect of EM on Growth, Egg Production and Waste Characteristics of Japanese Quail

A study was conducted to determine the effects of EM supplied in drinking water and feed on growth, egg production and waste characteristics of Japanese quail. The effect of EM on the growth of 1,000 day-old quail was assessed using a completely randomized design with four treatments: a control; EM added in drinking water at 1:5,000; EM (in the form of fermented compost or bokashi) added in feed at 1:100 (i.e., 1%) and EM added in both drinking water and feed. The effect of EM on egg production involved 400 pullet quail randomly selected from the earlier study and evaluated using the same experimental design and treatments. Results after 4 weeks showed no significant effects of EM on growth, feed efficiency and mortality rate of growing quail. For egg production, EM supplied in either drinking water or feed had no significant effect on growth, laying performance, and feed efficiency of pullet quail. However, EM had a significant effect on egg quality as noted by a darker colored yolk. Pullet quail that received EM in feed and in both feed and drinking water produced manure that was significantly reduced in malodors. Chemical analysis showed that this corresponded to a lower level of total volatile solids, which is an indicator of malodors. Manure of pullet quail that received EM in feed contained a higher level of crude protein. Introduction The Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) has been widely used as a laboratory animal, since it grows rapidly, matures at an early age and is a prolific egg producer. Presently, there is considerable interest in Japanese quail for commercial production in Thailand. The principal constraint to intensive production of this particular species is proper management of waste materials as well as dust, noxious gases and malodors. The lack of timely and efficient management of quail manure, especially under the hot and humid conditions of the tropics can have adverse effects on quail performance. Apparently, there is little information available on the most effective management practices for controlling malodors in rearing facilities. Recently, a study by Chantsavang et al. (1996) at the National Swine Research and Training Center, Kasetsart University, showed that Effective Microorganisms (EM) a mixed culture inoculant of beneficial microorganisms was effective for treating the waste effluent and reducing the level of malodors from an experimental pig farm. In this study, the EM was added to the wash water that flushed the pig manure and urine into an effluent holding pond. There are several reports in the literature which indicate that certain cultures of microorganisms added to feed or drinking water can improve the production performance of some avian species. For example, Tortuero (1973) reported a positive response when Lactobacillus acidophilus was added to the drinking water of broilers and leghorn chicks. Frances et al. (1978) found no significant improvement in body weight and feed efficiency when a Lactobacillus culture was added to the diet of turkey poults. In a study by Miles et al. (1981a), the addition of Lactobacillus acidophilus and other lactobacilli to the feed of bobwhite quail chicks had no significant effect on their growth, feed efficiency or mortality. In another study on laying bobwhite quail, Miles et al. (1981b) found no significant effect of feeding a Lactobacillus culture on feed consumption, egg production, fertility or hatchability of fertile eggs. In view of these conflicting reports, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of EM supplied in drinking water and feed on the production performance and waste characteristics of Japanese quail. Experimental Procedures The study was divided into two experiments to evaluate the effects of EM on growth and egg production of Japanese quail. In the growth experiment (duration: 4 weeks), 1,000 day-old Japanese quail were assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of 4 treatments each with 5 replicate pens of 50 chicks per pen. Each pen had dimensions of 90 x 45 x 30 cm with supplemental heat provided by a 100-watt electric light bulb. Feed and water were freely available during the 4-week growing period. All birds received a growing diet with 26 percent protein treatment; total composition is reported in Table 1. In the control treatments the birds were fed the same growing diet but without EM. In the second, third and fourth treatments, the birds were fed the growing diet supplemented, respectively, with EM in drinking water at a dilution of 1:5,000; EM in feed in the form of fermented compost or bokashi at a level of 1:100 (i.e., 1%); and EM both in drinking water at 1:5,000 and in feed at 1:100. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratios were calculated after 2 and 4 weeks, while mortality was recorded daily. Table 1. Composition of Growing and Laying Diets of Japanese Quail. Ingredients Growing diet (%) Laying diet (%)