Effect of feeding ration using protein and calcium microparticles along with inulin on protein digestibility, and egg protein mass in Japanese quail

The study aimed to assess the effect of feeding protein and calcium microparticles with the addition of Cichorium intybus root flour on protein digestibility and protein mass of quail eggs. 7-week-old female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were employed, totaling 100 birds with an average body weight of 148.50 ± 3.34 g. Cichorium intybus root flour was utilized as a source of prebiotics. The ration consisted of corn, rice bran, soybean meal, fish meal, eggshell, premix, vegetable oil, lysine, and methionine. The study was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments applied were T0: ration with 19.15% non-microparticle protein and Ca without 0.6% chicory root flour, T1: ration with 19.10% microparticle protein and Ca without 0.6% chicory root flour, T2: T0 + 0.6% chicory root flour, and T3: T1 + 0.6% chicory root flour. Parameters measured included protein digestibility, egg fill weight, protein mass, and calcium level of quail eggs. Data were processed using analysis of variance with the F test at the 5% significance level, and if the treatment showed a significant effect, followed by the Duncan test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that feeding protein and calcium microparticles plus chicory root flour had a significant effect (p<0.05) on protein digestibility, egg fill weight, protein mass, and egg calcium. The conclusion is that feeding rations using protein and calcium microparticles plus chicory root flour 0.6% (T3) as a source of inulin improves protein digestibility, thereby increasing egg protein and calcium mass, but produces the same egg content weight as other treatments.