Abstract

A total of 304 mixed sex chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) chicks were reared in an environmentally controlled cages, which were divided into two groups, control (not supplemented) and probiotic (PrimaLac^® supplemented) treatments with four replicates per treatment. The birds were fed PrimaLac^® at the rate of 1.0 and 0.5 g/kg of feed from 1 to 3 and 4 to 40 weeks of age, respectively. At 32 weeks of age, 64 female chukar partridges with uniform body weight were selected to determine the effects of PrimaLac^® on egg production over 33 to 40 weeks and egg quality characteristics over the last two days of 40 weeks of age. Addition of probiotic PrimaLac^® increased (P < 0.05) egg weight and specific gravity, but concomitant decrease (P < 0.05) in egg shape index. The application of PrimaLac^® also increased (P < 0.05) egg shell thickness, egg shell weight and egg albumen weight. However, in terms of egg production and yolk weight, no significant differences were detected in the two groups (P > 0.05), although these values were numerically greater in probiotic treated birds.

Key words: Chukar partridge, egg production, egg quality, probiotic.