Growth performance and nutrient metabolizability of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) orally administered varying levels of Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf) aqueous extract

Abstract

A 42-days trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lemon grass aqueous extract (LGAE) on growth performance and nutrient metabolizability of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The 10 days old Japanese quails (n = 240) used in this study were allotted to 5 groups and were fed a common corn-soybean meal-basal diet unrestrictedly for a period of 42 days. The five treatments include the control group fed basal diet with no additive, the second group received antibiotics (Embacox® at 8g per litre) while the remaining three (3) treatments were administered LGAE in drinking water at varying levels of 0.20, 0.40, and 0.60 ml per litre once a week. The quails which received 0.2ml LGAE per litre had higher (P<0.05) body weight gain, and daily feed intake was increased by 3.88% when compared with antibiotic-treated group. FCR was higher (P<0.05) in quails exposed to 0.4 and 0.6ml LGAE while the least value was obtained in quails which received antibiotics (Embacox®). Significant increase in water intake (P<0.05) and water to feed ratio (P<0.001) was observed in growing quails which received 0.2ml LGAE when compared to other treatments. Japanese quails which received lemon grass extract in water showed higher (P<0.05) nutrient metabolizability, except crude fibre, than those in control group. Nutrient metabolizability increases (except for fibre) as the LGAE inclusion level increases. The study concluded that Japanese quail served 0.2ml LGAE per litre had similar growth rate with those on control groups while additional dosage resulted in negative effects. LGAE administered in drinking water up to 0.6ml per litre enhance nutrient metabolizability and utilization.