Performance and Physiological Response of Japanese Quails to Administration of Parquetina nigrescens

The purpose of the study was to investigate the response of Japanese quails to the administration of Parquetina nigrescence leaf extract (PNLE). The study was carried out at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Two hundred (200) day-old quails were purchased from a commercial hatchery. Parquetina nigrescens leaves were harvested around Babcock University, Ilishan,Remo, Ogun State Nigeria. Six hundred grams of the leaf was cut into smaller pieces and soaked into 1 litre of water for 72 hours, it was then filtered with a muslin cloth and the filtrate was given to the birds according to the treatments. The birds were randomly distributed into five treatments; each treatment replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate. Treatment 1 (T1); without PNLE served as the control, T2, T3, T4, T5 received PNLE at 0.20, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.80 ml/liter of water respectively. Data on phytochemicals, growth performance, and basic physiological responses were collected and subjected to analysis of variance using statistical analytical system. According to the results obtained, all the parameters for growth were not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by the administration of PNLE with the exception of feed conversion ratio (FCR) and final live weight at the finisher phase. The best FCR (3.18) was recorded in T3 at the starter phase while T5 had the best final live weight and FCR at the finisher phase. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the oxygen concentration and pulse rates of the Japanese quails. It can be concluded from the study that the administration of Parquetina nigrescens up to 0.80ml is safe for Japanese quails for optimum performance.