Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lysine (Lys) and sex on growing quail performance and immunity parameters. The six dietary Lys: 10, 11.5, 13.0, 14.5, 16.0 and 17.5 g/kg were provided. This experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design arrangement from 3 to 24 days. Each treatment was consisted of 5 floor pens (50 quail chicks). Body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) increased significantly (P<0.05) with dietary Lys supplementation up to 14.5 g/kg. The quails that consumed 14.5 g/kg Lys had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR). The carcass weight, breast weight and yield, thigh weight and yield, mortality and response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary Lys. The breast yield, thigh weight and yield, white blood cells count, monocyte percentage and response to SRBC significantly (P<0.05) were influenced by sex. Neither age nor sex had any significant effect on lymphocyte percentage, heterophile percentage and heterophile to lymphocyte ratio at 24 days of age. In this study, an interaction of sex with Lys were not significant (P>0.05) for any traits. It concluded that during the 3 to 24 days of age optimum BW, BWG, FCR and immunity status could be obtained with 14.5 g/kg Lys, so these levels is more than NRC 1994 recommendation.

Key words: Lysine, Japanese quail, performance, immunity.