A Study of the Protein Requirements of Bobwhite Quail Reared in Confinement in Battery Brooders to Eight Weeks of Age*†

A Study of the Protein Requirements of Bobwhite Quail Reared in Confinement in Battery Brooders to Eight Weeks of Age*†

POULTRY SCIENCE March, 1950, Vol. XXIX, No. 2 • JAMES T. BALDINI, ROY E. ROBERTS AND CHARLES M. KIRKPATRICK Departments of Poultry Husbandry and Fore...

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POULTRY SCIENCE March, 1950, Vol. XXIX, No. 2 •

JAMES T. BALDINI, ROY E. ROBERTS AND CHARLES M. KIRKPATRICK Departments of Poultry Husbandry and Forestry and Conservation, Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, Lafayette, Indiana (Received for publication August 9,1949)

I

N order to restore and increase bobwhite populations, artificial propagation and release is being practiced in many states. At the present time this procedure is difficult, inefficient, and costly. The work reported herein was directed toward the determination of rations and methods with which the bobwhite could be reared successfully and efficiently in captivity. Reports on quail reared in captivity by LeCompte (1931), Petty (1934), Bass (1937), and Nestler and Bailey (1941), state that it is possible to keep bobwhite quail chicks confined to battery brooders or similar enclosures for as long as four weeks, after which time they must be removed to holding pens if best results are to be obtained. Mac Namara (1933) stated * Journal Paper No. 409 of the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station. t Based on a thesis presented by the senior author to the faculty of Purdue University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, February, 1949.

that he allowed 0.52 to 0.58 square feet per bird and obtained favorable results to four weeks of age, when the birds were removed to rearing pens. He reported mortality at four weeks between 16 and 20 percent. Nestler and his associates (1942) in reporting some work on the protein requirements of the bobwhite stated that they found, after discussion with a number of reliable quail breeders that a 45 percent mortality to eight weeks was considered normal by many. Mishler and co-workers (1946) reported favorable results with chickens on a cornsoybean oil meal diet supplemented with minerals and the vitamins A, D, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and choline chloride. Mishler el al. (1948) reported that the addition of condensed fish soluble to the corn-soybean oil meal, mineral, and vitamin ration, gave added growth. They attributed the extra growth to an "animal protein factor" in the fish solubles. Nestler and his associates (1944) in 161

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A Study of the Protein Requirements of Bobwhite Quail Reared in Confinement in Battery Brooders to Eight Weeks of Age**

162

JAMES T. BALDINI, ROY E. ROBERTS AND CHARLES M. KIRKPATRICK

Norris (1935) stated that the bobwhite quail needed a 27 percent protein diet for the most rapid growth up to eight weeks. The weight difference in favor of the birds on the 27 percent protein level over those on a 24 percent protein level, however, was not great. Stadelman et al. (1945) in evaluating fifteen mash mixtures for growth of the bobwhite found that best results were obtained with a mixture running slightly over 28 percent crude protein. This ration contained 40 percent soybean oil meal, more than any other mash mixture in the experiment. Favorable results were also obtained with 24 and 25 percent crude protein mixtures. Nestler and co-workers (1942) studied ' the protein requirements of the bobwhite from the standpoint of survival, rate of growth, and feed utilization efficiency during the first ten weeks of life. The protein levels studied varied between 22 and 32 percent. They reported that the 28 percent level gave the best general results. The mortality was high, ranging from 40 to 56 percent for the first ten weeks. In later experiments by Nestler et al. (1944)

the mortality to ten weeks was cut to approximately 20 percent. EXPERIMENTAL

Quail eggs were obtained from one of the Indiana state game farms and hatched in the Poultry Department incubators. Two trials were conducted. In the first trial the quail chicks were assorted into lots on the basis of day old weights, but in the second trial the chicks were assorted at random into the various lots since hatching weight of vigorous appearing quail apparently had no special significance. At one day the quail chicks were banded about the leg using canary bands; and were then weighed. The average weight at one day of age was 5.4 grams in both trials. At four weeks the canary bands were removed and trout tags were inserted into the web of the wing. All chicks were reared in a battery brooder for the entire eight weeks of experiment. The battery brooder was six decks high with two compartments on each deck separated by a partition of f inch mesh hardware cloth. From 34 to 37 chicks were started per lot in each compartment of the battery brooder. The inside dimensions of each compartment were 37 inches long and 27 inches wide, providing 999 square inches of floor space per lot, and between 27 and 29 square inches per chick to 8 weeks of age. A pint jar waterer and one 18 inch feeder were used in each compartment. The rations were fed as all-mash rations and the birds received nothing except the mash and water for the entire eight weeks. All soybean oil meal used was made by the expeller process and guaranteed to contain a minimum of 41 percent protein. Vitamins A and D were supplied by the use of fortified fish oil containing 400 A.O.A.C. units of vitamin D and 30001.U. of vitamin A per gram. The vitamins ribo-

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comparing animal and vegetable protein supplements for the bobwhite reported that the lowest average weights at six weeks were obtained on the vegetable protein diets. Soybean oil meal, however, was found to be the best of the vegetable protein supplements. Diets containing fish meal gave the best results. In the first two of the three experiments, "picking" manifested itself during the second to fourth week regardless of the diet fed. In the third experiment the highest average eight week weight was obtained on a protein mixture of sardine fishmeal 5 percent, meat scrap 5 percent, and soybean oil meal 30 percent. Nestler attributed the better growth on the fish meal diets to the adequacy of the fish meal in amino acid content.

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PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS or BATTERY-BROODED QUAIL

TRIAL

B, C, D, E, and F (Table 1) was used. These rations varied in the proportions of animal and vegetable proteins that they contained. They were fed in such a manner that during the experiment the animal proteins of the ration were reduced and the vegetable proteins increased. They were fed as follows: first week, Ration A; second week, Ration C; third week, Ration D; fourth week, Ration E; fifth and sixth weeks, Ration F; and seventh and eighth weeks, Ration B. In Lot 2, 50 percent of the chicks died during the first week. Five more died before the end of the fourth week and there were no more deaths after the fifth week. Picking of the beak and feet was observed by the second week. The birds seemed to improve as

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The first trial contained four lots of 34 quail each started on May 21, 1948. Lot 1 received rations A and B (Table 1) ad

TABLE 1.—Percentage composition of diets used in Trials 1 and 2 Ingredients Ground yellow corn Alfalfa meal (dehydrated) Soybean oil meal Meat and bone scrap (50% protein) Dried buttermilk Ground limestone Steamed bone meal Salt mixture1 Cod liver oil (3000 A-400 D) Methionine Fish solubles (dry) Vitamins8 Percentage protein

F

B 35.0 5.0 45.0 7.0 6.0 0.5

38.7 5.0 24.0 21.0 10.0

35.0 5.0 35.0 13.0 10.0 0.5

34.0 5.0 39.0 9.0 11.0 0.5

35.0 5.0 42.0 10.0 6.0 0.5

1.0 0.5

1.0 0.5

1.0 0.3

1.0 0.5

1.0 0.5

1.0 0.5

28.14

27.94

28.02

28.02

28.07

C

D

E

A 40.0 3.0 2.5 33.0 20.0

G

H

I

J

35.45

33.95

60.45

47.45

60.0

60.0

35.0

48.0

1.0 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.25

+

28.30 28.16

1.0 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.25 1.5

+

28.53

1.0 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.25

+

20.04

1.0 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.25

+

24.20

1 1

Nine parts NaCl to one part MnSO*. Riboflavin 0.3 mgs. per 100 gr. feed, Ca Pantothenate 1.5 mgs. per 100 gr. feed, Niacin 3.0 mgs. per 100 gr. of feed and Choline Chloride 0.3 percent.

libitum in separate feeders so that the chicks were free to choose between the two. Ration A represented an animal protein ration as compared to the vegetable protein ration B. Because of high mortality Lot 1 was discontinued at four weeks with only 11 of the original 34 birds alive and in poor condition. The birds in Lot 1 began to pick each other about the beak and feet at the beginning of the second week. They exhibited a preference for Ration B over Ration A, eating twice as much of Ration B as of Ration A. In Lot 2 a series of rations, numbered A,

the change from animal proteins to vegetable proteins was made. Lot 3 was given Ration F which was to serve as a conventional mixed protein ration. The mortality in this group amounted to 20 percent and all of it occurred during the first week. There was no evidence of cannibalism at any time. Lot 4 was fed Ration G, a corn-soybean oil meal simplified ration. The diet contained no animal materials. The mortality in this lot amounted to 9 percent, and of the three chicks that died, two were killed by accident. The birds in this lot were

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flavin, choline chloride, niacin, and calcium pantothenate were used in the crystalline form. They were dissolved in ethyl alcohol and water and dried on ground corn to make a premix used in the simplified diets. Methionine was used in the pure crystalline form. All birds were weighed individually each week of the experiment. Mortality was recorded along with date of incidence. The feed consumption of each lot of chicks was determined each week at the time of weighing the chicks.

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JAMES T. BALDINI, ROY E. ROBERTS AND CHARLES M. KIRKPATRICK TABLE 2.—Results of Trial 1

Lot number Ration Weight at eight weeks (grams) Grams of feed per gram gain Percent mortality

1 A&B

— —

73.5

2 Varied Ration 108.1 3.47 64.7

3 F 118.9 5.26 20.5

4 G 122.9 3.84 9.1

28 percent ration. There was no mortality on the 28 percent ration, but three birds developed perosis. Ration H was the same as Ration G except that 1.5 percent of fish solubles, on a dry basis, was added. Mortality at eight weeks was 5.5 percent and the birds had the same average weight as the birds on Ration G. Ration G was significantly better as TRIAL 2 measured by eight week weights than The second trial was started on June either Ration I or Ration J. The results of 19, 1948, and contained five lots of 36 or Trail 2 appear in Table 3. 37 chicks each. Ration F was repeated DISCUSSION and this time the results were not satisfactory. There was a great amount of This work indicates that the bobwhite cannibalism and mortality amounted to 59 quail can live and grow well from the time percent at eight weeks. of hatching, on a diet composed wholly of Rations I, J, and G were all corn-soy- feeds from vegetable sources. Apparently bean oil meal simplified rations which dif- there was no benefit to be had from a high fered in protein content, 20 percent, 24 animal protein content during the early percent and 28 percent respectively. Vita- period of growth or for that matter during min additions to the three rations were any part of the first eight weeks. It must kept the same. be considered, however, that in this exOn the 20 percent protein ration mor- periment a high mineral content accomtality amounted to 62 percent at eight panied the animal protein of Ration A. weeks, and cannibalism was prevalent. The mineral content of Ration A was 4 Feathering was poor and parts of the pri- percent calcium and 2 percent phosphorus due mainly to the 33 percent level of meat maries were colorless. On the 25 percent protein ration mor- and bone scrap. Ration A apparently was tality at eight weeks was 8 percent. The not capable of supporting life or growth. Stoddard (1931) in his observation on birds were well feathered and in good condition but smaller than the birds on the quail in the wild, reported that the young TABLE 3.—Results of Trial 2 Lot Number Ration Weight a t eight weeks (grams) Grams of feed per gram gain Percent mortality

5 F 107.8 6.10 59.4

6 G 121.8 3.88 0.0

7 H 121.6 3.80 5.5

8 I 82.4 3.79 62.1

9

J

111.5 3.69 8.1

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heavier, better feathered, more active, and in better general condition than the birds in any other lot. There was no evidence of cannibalism at any time. There was no significant difference in the eight week weights of Lots 3 and 4. Lots 3 and 4 were significantly better than Lot 2. The results of Trial 1 appear in Table 2.

PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF BATTERY-BROODED QUAIL

level neither lived nor grew well. The added vitamin content was constant, indicating that the factor limiting growth was amino acid or protein in nature. The results obtained in this experiment give very definite evidence that it is possible to rear the bobwhite quail in battery brooders, closely confined. The results indicate that the most important essential for success is an adequate diet. If the diet is good, the birds show no tendency to pick nor any desire for more room. They feather out and grow well when they are cared for in a manner similar to good chicken battery management. In trial 2, the chicks on Ration G were kept in the battery brooder compartment until they were ten weeks of age. There were 33 birds in the 999 square inch compartment, each bird having 30.2 square inches of floor space at ten weeks of age. The birds did very well under these conditions. SUMMARY

1. Feeds from vegetable sources were found to be adequate for rapid growth of the bobwhite. 2. Good growth and livability of quail chicks was obtained on a ration containing 60 percent soybean oil meal and 35 percent corn when supplemented with methionine, four synthetic B complex vitamins, salt, minerals, and cod liver oil. 3. A 28 percent protein level gave the best growth and livability of quail chicks. 4. The bobwhite quail can be reared in battery brooders in close confinement without evidence of cannibalism, provided the diet is adequate. REFERENCES Bass, C. C , 1937. Rearing bobwhite quail in confinement for restocking purposes. Louisiana Conservation Review. Summer 1937: 37-41. LeCompte, E. L., 1931. Propagation of bobwhite

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quail's diet contained more than 80 percent of animal matter during the first few weeks. In the wild, a gradual change was made until the animal content of the diet was below 20 percent at eight weeks. The animal matter taken was mainly insects. The protein or mineral content of such a diet is unknown. Our work does not indicate that a change in the animal content of the diet is necessary. The probable reason for the situation in nature, is that insects attract the young chicks by their movements, are more easily seen, and more easily torn apart and eaten. Our experiments indicate that the bobwhite quail grows and lives better on a vegetable diet, and especially well when the greater part of the vegetable matter is soybean oil meal. The heaviest quail chicks were grown on diets containing no animal matter. The best growth was obtained on the higher levels of soybean oil meal with the heaviest chicks in the experiment being grown on a 60 percent soybean oil meal level. Livability and growth seemed to be increased as the soybean oil meal was increased and there seemed to be some evidence of a cumulative effect, either protein or vitamin, acting with the increased amounts of soybean oil meal. A relatively simple diet proved satisfactory for the quail. A ration similar to that used by Mishler et al. (1946) for chickens in which corn and soybean oil meal made up 95 percent of the total, gave excellent results. In this respect, quail are apparently similar to chickens. The findings made by Nestler et al. (1942) and Stadelman et al. (1945) were confirmed by this work. The best growth was obtained on a 28 percent protein level. The birds on the 24 percent protein level did not grow as well but lived as well as those on the 28 percent protein level. The chicks on the 20 percent protein

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1942. Protein requirements of bobwhite quail chicks for survival, growth, and efficiency of feed utilization. J. Wildl. Man. 6:185-193. Nestler, R. B., L. M. Llewellyn, and M. Y. Benner, 1944. Wartime diets for growing bobwhite quail. J. Wildl. Man. 8: 211-218. Norris, L. C , 1935. Nutrition of game birds. New York State Conservation Dept. Ann. Report (1935): 331-338. Petty, U. N., 1934. Battery brooding bobwhite chicks. Trans. 21st Amer. Game Conf. 224-225. Stadelman, W. J., E. W. Callenbach, R. R. Murphy, and R. V. Boucher, 1945. Rations for bobwhite quail. Penn. Game News XV (11): 10. Stoddard, H. L., 1931. The bobwhite quail—its habits, preservation and increase. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 559 pages.

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quail by electricity. Trans, of 18th Amer. Game Conf. 147-152. MacNamara, L. G., 1933. Recent advances in quail breeding. Trans, of 20th Amer. Game Conf. 192— 198. Mishler, D. H., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts, and S. M. Hauge, 1946. Synthetic and natural vitamin supplements for corn and soybean oil meal chick rations. Poultry Sci. 25:479-485. Mishler, D. H., C. W. Carrick, and S. M. Hauge, 1948. Condensed fish solubles as a supplement for corn and soybean oil meal chick rations. Poultry Sci. 27:263-269. Nestler, R. B., and W. W. Bailey, 1941. Bobwhite quail propagation. U.S.D.A. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conservation Bull. No. 10. Nestler, R. B., W. W. Bailey, and H. E. McClure,