Influence of the age of the bird and storage time on the properties of the japanese quail egg

2025-01-29T08:07:10-06:00

The study's objective was to evaluate the effect of storage conditions and the bird's age on the physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological characteristics of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs produced in Atenas, Costa Rica. Eggs from one-, four-, and six-month-old birds were stored for 28 days at 5, 20, and 30 °C. Physicochemical variables were analyzed, such as egg weight, morphological index, apparent shell porosity, air chamber height, internal quality unit (UQI), yolk color, yolk index, yolk weight, shell thickness, pH of the yolk, and albumen pH; nutritional variables such as moisture, crude protein, ether extract, and ash percentage; and microbiological variables such as the bacterial count of the total coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella spp. Egg weight decreased significantly at 30 °C as the storage days passed. The morphological index and shell thickness were not affected by storage but rather by the bird's age. The height of the air chamber increased to 30 ºC. The UQI, index, and yolk weight were affected by the environmental temperatures of 20 ºC and 30 ºC. The pH values of yolk and albumen increased on the third day of the study and then remained constant. Yolk color was not affected by storage or age. Nutritional quality was affected, in terms of dry matter, by water evaporation during the study. Throughout the investigation, egg microbiology remained ideal. Overall egg quality was affected by storage time and temperature conditions, decreasing over time.

Digestibility of Acacia macracantha attenuated in secondary compounds and Acacia polyphylla in rabbit diets

2025-02-19T14:11:37-06:00

This study, conducted in Lara State, Venezuela, aimed to evaluate the effects of dolomitic lime treatment on Úveda pods to reduce secondary compounds (CSAs) and its impact on nutrient intake and digestibility in rabbit diets. The trial utilized iso-protein diets with varying inclusion levels of Acacia macracantha pods (Pam) and Acacia polyphylla foliage (Fap), alongside different levels of lime treatment (0.5% and 1.0%) on Pam. The experimental design was completely randomized with 5 treatments: T0 (commercial balanced feed); T1 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vitamins and minerals (vit), 7.5% M, 45.0% Fap, and 15.5% Pam); T2 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.0% M, 45.0% Fap, and 16.0% Pam); T3 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.5% M, 30.0% Fap, and 30.5% Pam) and T4 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.0% M, 30.0% Fap, and 31.0% Pam). In this way, 5 repetitions per treatment: one rabbit/cage/experimental unit (Californian rabbit, 1.286 ± 0.045 kg of initial live weight). The trial lasted 12 days: 7 of habituation and 5 of collection. The study focused on evaluating the intake and digestibility of several nutrients: dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), cell wall content (neutral detergent insoluble fiber, NDF), and crude protein (CP). These variables were examined to assess the effectiveness of different dietary treatments in rabbits. Significant differences were found regarding DM intake. The highest was for T0 (141.0 g/animal/d), followed by T3 and T4, with 84.8 g/animal/d and 85.5 g/animal/d, respectively. The digestibility of DM and NDF had the highest values in T0 (69.3% and 51.8% in that order), followed by T3 (52.0% and 39.7%). Regarding CP, the highest digestibility was for T0 (81.8%), secondly by T3 (41.3%). This allows to conclude that lime treatment did not completely neutralize the enzymatic inhibitor of protein digestibility present in Pam, being the best treatment T0, and then processed food T3 and T4. Further studies are recommended to assess long-term impacts on growth and nutrient utilization.

Nutrición Animal Tropical Journal

Influence of the age of the bird and storage time on the properties of the japanese quail egg

Digestibility of Acacia macracantha attenuated in secondary compounds and Acacia polyphylla in rabbit diets