Evaluation the effect of feeding method (dry-wet) on Japanese quail performance

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding method (wet and dry) on the performance of meat quail chicks. This experiment was carried out with 160 one days old quail chicks in completely randomized design, 2 treatments included 4 replicates (20 quail chicks in each replicate) and conducted for a 35 day period. Measured traits, were included performance parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat quality items. Diets were based on corn-soybeans and wheat. Using wet feeding resulted in a significant difference in performance parameters quail chicks. The results of this experiment showed that for entire period (0–35d), the wet feeding significantly improved body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio in compared with control group (P < 0.05). Also the wet feeing significantly decreased the length of cecaeum, pH of gizzard content and increased the population of lactic acid bacteria in compared to dry feeding. Meat quality items were not affected by feeding methods. In conclusion, the results of this experiment showed that wet feeding of chick quail improved the growth performance, and profit microbial population ofsmall intestine.