tailieunhanh - Termites as protein source for economic production of Japanese quail

The present investigation has been contemplated to study the economic production of Japanese quails fed on locally available termites during rainy season as protein source for wider applicability in promoting small scale low cost quail farming in Assam. In the present study about 180 numbers of day old unsexed Japanese quail chicks from a single hatch was procured and randomly divided into four equal groups . T0 (control), T1 (5% dried termite), T2 (10% dried termite) and T3 (15% dried termite) containing 45 numbers of chicks in each group which was further subdivided into 3 replicates of 15 chicks in each. The chicks were maintained following standard feeding and uniform managemental practices under cage system of rearing. For preparation of termite meal local species of termites were collected from various regions of Assam by shoving termiterium with the spade to discomfort them and they will erupt and come out which is then brushed into plastic container. Then they were soaked in a tub of water for a minute to die. After that they were sieved with a traditional bamboo strainer followed by drying in hot air oven at 600 C for 12 hours and used in quail starter and finisher feed for a period of 6 weeks. The cost of production per Japanese quail including the additional cost of dried termite was highest in T3 (Rs. ) followed by T2 (Rs. ), T1 (Rs. ) and T0 (Rs. ) group. However, the gross profit per Japanese quail was found to be highest in T3 group (Rs. ) followed by T2 (Rs. ), T1 (Rs. ) and T0 (Rs. ) group. Thus, it is concluded that the inclusion of dried termite in the basal diet can be used effectively and economically as an alternative protein source in commercial Japanese quail feed. | Termites as protein source for economic production of Japanese quail