EFFECTS OF MEDITERRANEAN CUTTLEFISH (SEPIA OFFICINALIS) BONE AS AN ALTERNATIVE CALCIUM SOURCE ON EGG PRODUCTION, EGG QUALITY AND SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS IN LAYING QUAILS

At present, ground limestone is one of the common calcium (Ca) sources for laying hens. This research aims to find out the performance and egg quality characteristics of quails fed with diets containing different percentages of substitution of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) bone (CFB) as a waste of water product, instead of limestone on dry matter basis. One hundred and forty-four Japanese quails (Coturnixcoturnix japonica) aged 8 weeks were randomly separated into one control and two treatment groups. Each group was divided into six replicates, each containing eight quails. The experimental diets of the first and second treatment groups consisted of two levels of CFB (50 and 100% respectively) instead of limestone. All group rations were devised to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Throughout the experimental period (8 weeks), feed and water were given ad libitum. The feed efficiency (kg of feed per dozen egg) of the treatment groups was positively affected by CFB (p<0.05); however, the kg of feed per kg of egg ratio was not affected compared with the control group. The effects of both levels of dietary CFB on shape index, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index and yolk color were not significant. The Ca and Mg levels of blood and eggshell were not significantly affected by the treatments; however, the P level of eggshell was decreased in both treatment groups compared with the control (p<0.05). In conclusion, substituting limestone with dietary CFB did not affect the internal and external egg quality of laying quails generally. Besides, the results showed that there is no correlation between eggshell P level and P level of blood serum.