Effect of Alkaline Hydrolyzed Feather Meal on Performances and Lipid Oxidation of Meat and Egg of Laying Quails

In order to evaluate the effect of alkaline hydrolyzed feather meal on performance and lipid oxidation of meat and egg of laying quails, 64 adult quails at 40 day of age were used. Forty eight female and 16 male quails were randomly used in three to one proportion in separate cages in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 4 birds in each. The experimental treatments consisted of control (containing soybean meal as major protein source), and treatments containing 3%, 6% and 9% alkaline hydrolyzed feather meal, respectively. During the experimental period, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, egg mass, feed intake and egg production percentage were measured. At the end of experimental period (82 days of age), two birds per cage were selected, slaughtered and the malondialdehyde content in fresh and stored meat and egg samples were determined. The results of this experiment showed that no significant difference was observed in feed conversion ratio, egg mass, feed intake and egg production percentage (P>0.05). The weight of egg in treatments containing 3 and 9 alkaline hydrolyzed feather meal was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when compared with control and treatment containing 6% alkaline hydrolyzed feather meal in whole experimental period. The malondialdehyde content of meat and egg of laying quails was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in groups fed alkaline hydrolyzed feather meal when compared to control treatment. The results of this study showed that the use of alkaline