Nutritional requirement of digestible threonine for white egg layers of 60 to 76 weeks of age

The objective of this study was to determine the requirement for digestible Thr for optimum performance of white egg layers in the period from 60 to 76 wk of age. DeKalb White Leghorn layers with an average weight of 1,345 kg were distributed 5 increasing levels of digestible Thr (0.523, 0.546, 0.569, 0.592, and 0.615%) in a completely randomized design, with 6 replicates and 6 birds per experimental unit for a total of 180 birds. The dietary treatments contained 0.759% of digestible Lys, which was obtained using the prediction equation of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine, and each treatment consisted of a digestible Thr-to-Lys ratio of 69, 72, 75, 78, or 81%. The digestible Thr levels had a linear effect on feed intake and a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs. In conclusion, a digestible Thr-to-Lys ratio of 75.14% is recommended for White Leghorn of 60 to 76 wk of age, corresponding to the level of 0.570% in the diet and a daily intake of digestible Thr of 622 mg/bird.     

The response of broiler breeder hens to dietary lysine and methionine.

1. Broiler breeder hens were used in an experiment lasting 10 weeks (29 to 38 weeks of age) to measure the responses to dietary lysine and methionine, the main objective being to determine whether the coefficients of response to these amino acids were the same for broiler breeders and for laying pullets. 2. The hens were offered 150 g/d of one of 20 dietary treatments, 10 being lysine-limiting and 10 being methionine-limiting. The diets were mixed by diluting one of two concentrate (summit) mixes with a protein-free dilution mixture. The lysine-limiting summit diet was designed to supply approximately 1300 mg lysine/bird d, while the other supplied 520 mg methionine/bird d, when fed at 150 g/bird d. 3. Birds on the 5 lowest concentrations of both lysine and methionine did not consume the allotted amount of food, the amount decreasing, in a curvilinear fashion, to approximately 105 g/bird d. 4. The minimum egg weight recorded was 0.8 of the maximum, whereas the rate of lay of birds fed on the diets with the lowest amino acid concentrations was 0.2 of the maximum. 5. Using the Reading Model, the coefficients of response were calculated to be (for lysine) 16.88 E and 11.2 W, and for methionine, 7.03 E and 1.52 W, where E = egg output, g/bird d, and W = body mass, kg/bird. An average, individual, broiler breeder of 3 kg, producing 45 g of egg output per day, would need 793 mg of lysine and 321 mg of methionine daily. This intake of methionine is similar to that estimated by means of coefficients used for laying pullets, but the lysine requirement would be underestimated by 0.18 if the coefficients for laying pullets were used. 6. The coefficients for maintenance for both lysine and methionine, determined in this experiment, are considerably lower than values published previously, whilst the coefficients for egg output are, in both cases, higher. The resultant flock response curves therefore differed significantly from those in which the coefficients of response for for laying pullets were used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

2‐Hydroxy‐4‐methylthio butanoic acid and DL‐methionine for Japanese quails in production

An experiment was performed using 1,000 laying Japanese quails to assess the availability of two alternative dietary methionine sources. Treatment 01 = Basal Feed that is deficient in digestible methionine + cystine (Met + Cys). The other treatments were constituted by Met + Cys levels of 0.8, 1.60 and 2.40 g/kg, supplemented with DL‐Methionine‐99%, HMTBA‐88% and HMTBA‐84%, being 10 treatments in total. The following characteristics were studied: feed intake (g/bird/day), egg production (egg/day × 100), egg weight (g/egg), egg mass (g/egg), feed conversion per egg dozen (kg feed/dozen eggs), feed conversion per egg mass (kg feed/kg eggs), relative yolk weight (g/100 g of egg), relative albumen weight (g/100 g of egg), relative shell weight (g/100 g of egg), shell thickness (mm) and specific gravity (g/cm³). In general result comment, supplemental methionine sources must be included in the poultry diet. The different methionine sources affect the performance of quails, and the increase in the levels within each source improves the performance variables. Significant effect was observable on performance variables and egg quality variables, being that DLM‐99% is superior to the other sources. The HMTBA‐88% source is superior to the HMTBA‐84% source for the same aforementioned variables. In conclusion, the bioefficacy values of the HMTBA‐88% and HMTBA‐84% sources compared to the DLM‐99% source on an equimolar basis were 81 and 79%, respectively, for the performance variables, and 83 and 74 while the methionine sources were equivalent for the variables related to egg quality.     

In vivo antioxidant properties of vitamin E and chromium in cold-stressed Japanese quails.

An experiment was conducted to determine if vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol-acetate) and chromium (chromium picolinate, Cr Pic) supplementation attenuate the negative effects of cold stress on egg production, egg quality, serum metabolites, and antioxidant status in Japanese quails (Corurnix coturnix japonica). One hundred and fifty laying Japanese quails (50-day-old) were divided into five groups, 30 birds per group. The laying quails kept at 6 degrees C for 12 h/d (08.00 p.m. to 08.00 a.m.) were fed either a basal diet (low temperature-basal diet, CS group) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 microg of Cr/kg of diet (Cr group), 250 mg of alpha-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E group) or 400 microg of Cr plus 250 mg of alpha-tocopherol-acetate per kg of diet (Vit. E + Cr group) while quails kept at 18 degrees C were fed a basal diet (thermo-neutral-basal diet, TN group). Performance and egg quality were significantly reduced in CS group compared with TN group. Supplemental chromium and vitamin E significantly increased live weight change, egg production, and improved feed efficiency in cold-stressed laying hens compared with the group fed the basal diet at 6 degrees C. Egg production and egg weight were also greater (P < 0.05) in each supplemental group compared with the CS group. However, a combination of vitamin E and chromium, rather than each separately, provided the greatest performance. Supplemental vitamin E and chromium also increased serum vitamin C and E but, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (P < 0.05); the combination of vitamin E and chromium resulted in the highest levels of serum vitamin C and E within the cold-stressed quails. Results of the present study indicate that combined antioxidant supplements increased performance, egg quality and serum antioxidant levels while lowering MDA in cold-stressed quails.     

Digestible valine-to-digestible lysine ratios in brown commercial layer diets

Considering that Val may potentially be a limiting amino acid for laying hens, an experiment was carried out to determine the ideal digestible Val-to-Lys ratio in the diets of 42- to 54-wk-old brown layers. Literature reports are divergent, with ratios varying between 86 and 102%, which suggests that further research is needed. Five different digestible Val-to-Lys ratios were evaluated: 84 (0.555% digestible Val), 88, 92, 96, and 100%. Feed intake (g/hen per day), egg production (%), egg weight (g), egg mass (g), FCR (kg/dozen and g/g), egg quality (yolk, eggshell, and albumen %), and egg weight (g) were evaluated. Egg weight, egg internal quality, and weight gain were not influenced by the different dietary digestible Val-to-Lys ratios. The evaluated ratios linearly affected feed intake and had a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass, and FCR (kg/dozen and g/g). Based on the evaluated parameters, the ideal digestible Val-to-Lys ratio is 92%, corresponding to 0.607% digestible Val or 567 mg/hen per day of digestible Val.     

Nutritional requirement of digestible tryptophan for white-egg layers of 60 to 76 weeks of age

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional requirement of digestible Trp for white egg layers in the period from 60 to 76 wk of age. A total of 180 Dekalb White layers with an average weight of 1,345 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 increasing levels of digestible Trp (0.167, 0.175, 0.183, 0.191, and 0.199%), 6 replicates, and 6 birds per experimental unit. The diets of the treatments contained 0.759% of digestible Lys, which was obtained using the prediction equation of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine, and each treatment consisted of a digestible Trp-to-Lys ratio of 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26%. The digestible Trp levels in the diet had a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass, and conversion per mass and per dozen eggs, and a linear effect on egg weight. In conclusion, a diet with 0.192% digestible Trp, in a 25.33% ratio with digestible Lys or 212 mg/bird per day, can be recommended for white egg layers of 60 to 76 wk of age.     

Requirement of true ileal digestible threonine of growing and finishing pigs

Ninety-six crossbred barrows and gilts were used to investigate the optimum supply of true ileal digestible threonine for growing (approximately 35-65 kg body weight) and finishing (approximately 65-110 kg body weight) pigs. For this purpose, according to a bifactorial arrangement in the grower as well as in the finisher phase four dietary threonine levels were combined with two dietary levels of lysine. Measurement criteria were body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rate and carcass characteristics. In the grower stage at the lower lysine level daily gain increased numerically (p < 0.1) and the feed to gain ratio decreased significantly with an increasing dietary true ileal digestible threonine concentration. Increasing the true ileal digestible lysine concentration of the diet from 7.8 to 9.2 g/kg increased average daily gain in the grower stage significantly from 815 to 855 g and decreased the feed to gain ratio significantly. In finishing pigs, daily gain and feed to gain ratio were significantly improved by an increasing dietary true ileal digestible threonine concentration from 821 to 902 g and from 3.14 to 2.94 kg/kg, respectively, but not by the differing lysine supply. As in the grower stage, barrows consumed more feed than gilts at similar growth rates and this resulted in a significantly reduced feed to gain ratio in gilts compared with barrows. The requirements of true ileal digestible threonine for optimize both, daily gain and feed to gain ratio, as derived by the broken-line model were 10.3 g/animal and day for growing and 10.7 g/animal and day for finishing pigs respectively.     

Effect of dietary digestible lysine concentration on performance,egg quality,and blood metabolites in laying hens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary digestible lysine concentration on productive performance, egg quality, and blood metabolites in laying hens. A completely randomized block design was performed with 5 treatments and 6 replicates of 8 Hy-line W-36 hens each, from 32 to 44 wk of age. The treatments were 5 digestible lysine concentrations (0.657, 0.707, 0.757, 0.807, and 0.857% of diet). Feed intake was significantly increased with each increment in dietary digestible lysine concentration. Significant improvement in egg production, egg weight, egg mass, Haugh unit, and FCR were observed by an increase in lysine intake. Dietary lysine concentration did not have a significant impact on percentage of egg components, specific gravity, eggshell thickness, DM, and protein constituents of eggs. Dietary digestible lysine concentration did not have a significant effect on triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), uric acid, and total protein in plasma. The digestible lysine requirements for optimal egg production, egg mass, and egg weight (32 to 44 wk of age), based on the linear broken-line regression analysis, were 814, 810 and 778 (mg/b/d), respectively. Whereas, these values were 4, 3.9, and 6 percent less than those estimated by the quadratic broken-line model, respectively.     

The effect of soy isoflavones on egg quality and bone mineralisation during the late laying period of quail

1. Soy isoflavones play a role in calcium and bone metabolism. Poor egg quality, skeletal abnormalities and architectural deterioration of bone tissue are common problems under hot climate conditions and with increased age in poultry. 2. In this study, we investigated the effects of soy isoflavone supplementation on egg production, egg quality, bone mineral density (BMD), levels of osteocalcin (OC), vitamin D, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during the late laying period. 3. The birds (n = 180; 28 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups consisting of 6 replicates of 5 birds each in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (temperatures, soy isoflavone concentration). Birds were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 degrees C (thermo-neutral, TN) or 34 degrees C (heat stress, HS) for 8 h/d (09:00 to 17:00 h; until the end of the study) and fed either on a basal (control) diet or on the basal diet supplemented with either 400 or 800 mg of soy isoflavones/kg of diet. 4. Heat exposure reduced feed intake, egg production, egg quality, BMD, OC, vitamin D, Ca, P and ALP when the basal diet was given. Feed intake, egg production and egg weight were not affected, while eggshell thickness and eggshell weight increased in soy isoflavone-supplemented quails reared under TN conditions. However, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight and Haugh units were positively influenced by soy isoflavone supplementation in HS groups for quail during the late laying period. Bone mineral density, serum OC, vitamin D, Ca, P levels and ALP activity were significantly improved by soy isoflavone supplementation in both the TN and HS groups in quail during the late laying period. 5. Soy isoflavone supplementation of basal diet significantly improved egg quality and bone mineralisation in quail during the late laying period.     

Effect of method and phase of nutrient restriction during rearing on productive performance of light hybrid pullets and hens

1. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of method (low-lysine or quantity of food) and phase (starter or grower) of restriction during rearing on growth and laying performance in Leghorn hybrids. 2. A reduction in body weight gain was achieved by feeding pullets a low-lysine diet in either the starter phase (0-6 weeks of age: 4.0 g/kg digestible lysine) or the grower phase (7-18 weeks of age: 3.0 g/kg digestible lysine). 3. In each phase, the lysine restriction was compared with a daily food restriction, in which pullets received a quantity of food sufficient to pair-gain with their lysine-restricted counterparts. 4. The delay in onset of production was greatest in the lysine-restricted birds, for both phases of restriction. 5. Hens restricted during the grower phase laid heavier eggs than those restricted during the starter phase, despite having similar body weights at end of rearing. This effect was not influenced by the restriction method. 6. Production traits varied between pullets reared on different feeding strategies up to similar body weights at 18 weeks and onwards. It is concluded that body weight is not the only factor determining laying performance.     

Effects of extrusion conditions on trypsin inhibitor activity of full fat soybeans and subsequent effects on their nutritional value for young broilers

1. Increasing proportions of soybeans in poultry diets have highlighted the importance of correct processing to inactivate the anti-nutritional factors present whilst maintaining protein quality. 2. Ground full fat soybeans (FFSB) were extruded using a Clextral laboratory model twin-screw extruder with 0.75 l/h of water and end barrel temperatures of 90, 110, 130 and 160 degrees C resulting in trypsin inhibitor activities (TIA) of 14.8, 9.6, 4.5 and 1.9 mg/g sample. 3. The 4 extrudates were used at three different inclusion levels: 200, 400 and 600 g/kg semi-synthetic diet and fed to male Ross broiler chicks from d 19 to d 26. Digesta samples were taken for measurement of coefficient of ileal apparent amino acid digestibility (CIAD) and both pancreas and whole bird weights were measured. 4. Concentration of ileal apparent digestible lysine was increased from 10.53 to 17.63 g/kg FFSB by increasing extrusion temperature from 90 to 160 degrees C. CIAD of lysine was also improved from 0.58 to 0.86. Other amino acids showed similar improvements in both their ileal apparent digestible concentration and CIAD. 5. Mean weight gain over 3 d increased linearly from 42 to 95 g per bird with increasing extrusion temperatures of FFSB. Pancreatic enlargement was evident after 6 d of feeding with FFSB processed at lower temperatures, even when the TIA level was at the recommended threshold of 4 mg/g. 6. The results emphasise the importance of controlled conditions during processing of FFSB for poultry diets and suggest that processing of FFSB in order to reduce TIA levels below 4 mg/g may provide significant benefits for broiler chicks.     

Effect of dietary dried milky sludge on productive performance and egg quality in laying Japanese quails

The experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of dried milky sludge (DMS) as a feed source for laying Japanese quails. The DMS was incorporated into the experimental diets at levels of 0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0%. Four hundred quails were used in a completely randomized design. The results revealed that the daily egg-laying rate, feed cost/100 egg weight, egg width, egg length, egg weight, shell quality characteristics in terms of breaking time, Young's modulus, work, max force, fracturability, breaking stress, stiffness and power, as well as color intensity and yolk height improved significantly with increasing levels of DMS in the diet ( P  < 0.05), while feed intake/bird/day, mortality and eggshell thickness showed no significant differences ( P  > 0.05). From this experiment, it was found that DMS incorporated into the experimental diet at the 20.0% level yielded the most productive performance and best egg quality.     

Effect of low protein diets for growing Leghorn pullets upon subsequent laying performance

An experiment was conducted with White Leghorn pullets to study the effect on laying performance of dietary protein content and amino acid supplementation during the growing period. From 0 to 6 weeks of age birds fed on diets containing either 149 g protein/kg supplemented with methionine and lysine or 182 g protein/kg grew faster than those fed on a diet containing 149 g protein/kg alone. However, only those fed on the supplemented diet utilised their food more efficiently. From 7 to 20 weeks of age neither body weight gain nor food utilisation was affected by the dietary protein content. Pullets fed the low protein diet supplemented with 2 g methionine/kg and 2.5 g lysine/kg during the period of 0 to 6 weeks of age had significantly better egg production than birds fed the low protein diet alone. The dietary protein content during 7 to 20 weeks of age did not influence subsequent egg production.     

Dietary arginine silicate inositol complex during the late laying period of quail at different environmental temperatures

Arginine silicate inositol complex (ASIdagger; arginine 49.5%, silicon 8.2%, inositol 25%) is a novel material which is a bioavailable source of silicon and arginine. ASI offers potential benefits for vascular and bone health. Poor eggshell quality has been a major economic concern to commercial egg producers. Poor egg quality, skeletal abnormalities and architectural deterioration of bone tissue are common problems under hot conditions and in older birds. The effects of ASI supplementation on egg production, egg quality, levels of osteocalcin (OC) and bone mineral content were investigated in heat-stressed Japanese quail during the later part of the laying period. The birds were randomly assigned to six treatment groups consisting of six replicates of five birds each in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (temperatures, ASI levels). The birds were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 degrees C (TN) or 34 degrees C (HS) for 8 h/d and fed either a basal (control) diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 500 or 1000 g of ASI/kg. Heat exposure reduced egg production, egg quality and bone mineralisation when the basal diet was fed. ASI supplementation had no effect on feed intake or egg production under TN or HS conditions. However, ASI supplementation increased egg weight, shell thickness, shell weight and Haugh unit in both TN and HS groups during the late laying period. Bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly improved by ASI supplementation in both TN and HS groups. Serum osteocalcin (OC) concentrations and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity increased linearly with dietary ASI supplementation during the late laying period. The amount of calcium and phosphorus in the excreta decreased, while ash, mineral content, calcium and phosphorus concentrations in tibia increased in ASI-supplemented quail in both TN and HS groups during the late laying period. ASI supplementation significantly improved egg quality and bone mineralisation in quail during the late laying period and did not affect feed consumption or egg production.     

Optimum isoleucine requirement of laying hens and the effect of age

1. Medium weight laying hens were used for an assay to determine their isoleucine requirement between 26 and 36 weeks of age and again between 46 and 56 weeks of age. 2. Two isoleucine-limiting mixtures were formulated with similar amino acid profiles, one containing 198 g and the other 110 g crude protein per kg diet. These mixtures were blended to give a series of 11 diets with isoleucine contents ranging from 7.6 to 3.8 g/kg. The lowest protein diet was also fed with a supplement of L-isoleucine. Each of the 12 diets was given to 5 groups of 24 laying hens. 3. The daily isoleucine requirement of individual laying hens was estimated to be 9.48 mg/g egg output plus 44.47 mg/kg body weight per day for the 1st period and 12.11 mg/g egg output plus 6.86 mg/kg body weight per day for the 2nd period. Calculated optimum intakes of isoleucine for various ratios of cost of input to value of output are tabulated. For example, for a flock of medium weight hens producing an average of 50 g daily egg mass, the optimum isoleucine intake (mg/hen d) varied between 760 and 890 varying for ratios of costs to egg prices. 4. It is concluded that the isoleucine required per day does not decrease during the first laying year despite a decrease in rate of egg output.     

Effect of excess dietary threonine on laying performance,egg quality,serum free amino acids,and digestive enzymes activities of laying hens during the postpeak period

A total of 640 layer hens, 56 wk of age, were allocated to 4 dietary treatments groups, each of which included 5 replicates of 32 hens. Graded levels ofl-Thr were added to the basal diet at 0.0 (control), 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/kg; determined Thr values were 5.7, 6.5, 7.4, and 8.7 g/kg of diet, respectively. In the 53-d feeding trial, egg production increased significantly due to dietaryl-Thr supplementation. Hens fed 2.0 g of Thr/kg of diet had significantly higher egg production than the control diet. Supplementing the diet withl-Thr did not affect egg weight or feed intake, but egg mass increased significantly. Also, FCR was improved significantly and the best FCR was exhibited by hens receiving 2.0 g of Thr/kg of diet. Feeding laying hens a diet containing 2.0 g ofl-Thr/kg of diet improved Haugh units linearly; however, egg shell thickness decreased linearly as the level of dietary Thr increased, and the lowest value was observed for hens fed 3.0 g of Thr/kg of diet. Serum free Thr increased linearly as supplemental Thr increased, but serum free Ile, Phe, and Tyr decreased. No differences attributable tol-Thr were found among groups in the activity of digestive enzymes (trypsin and amylase) in the mucosal homogenates of the jejunum. The activity of α-alkaline phosphatase in the jejunum was analyzed as a marker of mucosal enterocyte maturation and no differences due tol-Thr supplementation were noted. In conclusion, feeding laying hens from 56 to 64 wk of agel-Thr up to 2.0 g/kg can improve laying performance and Haugh units.     

Performance of laying hens as affected by split time and split composition dietary regiments using ground and unground cereals

A factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects on the performance of White Leghorn X Australorp laying hens of diets based on unground cereal grains, small morning and large afternoon meals, and morning and afternoon meals of different composition. From 10 to 21 weeks of age the pullets' food intake was restricted, using either a diet in which the wheat fraction (600 g/kg) was unground or a fully ground diet of similar composition. In the laying period the birds received either a diet (U) in which the limestone was granulated and most of the cereal fraction (wheat and oats or wheat and sorghum) was unground or a fully ground diet (G) of similar composition. Both laying diets were offered ad libitum (A), with 25% issued in the morning and 75% in the late afternoon (T) or as a protein concentrate (250 g/kg of total diet) in the morning and cereal/limestone fraction (750 g/kg) in the late afternoon (C). Rearing and laying performance were unaffected by rearing diet. Laying diet U resulted in a 5.2% increase in food intake and a 0.9 g increase in average egg weight compared with diet G. From 21 to 56 weeks of age, when the cereal/limestone fraction of the diet included oats (240 g/kg of total diet), diet U resulted in fewer (4.8/bird) eggs and a lower financial margin than diet G. From 56 to 80 weeks of age, when oats were replaced by sorghum, this trend was reversed (-3.5 eggs). Birds on diet C produced fewer (16.9) eggs of lower (1.5 g) average weight than birds on diet A, ate less (1.39 kg) food and had a lower financial margin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tomato powder in laying hen diets: effects on concentrations of yolk carotenoids and lipid peroxidation

1. The effects of tomato powder supplementation on performance, egg quality, serum and egg yolk carotenoids, vitamins and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in were investigated in laying hens in mid-lay.

2. A total of 90 laying hens, 49 weeks old, were divided into 3 groups consisting of 6 replicate cages, 5 birds per cage. Birds were randomly fed on one of three diets: basal diet and basal diet added with 5 or 10?g tomato powder per kg diet.

3. As tomato powder concentration increased, there were linear increases in feed intake, egg production, egg weight and yolk colour and a linear decrease in feed conversion. Shell weight, shell thickness and Haugh unit remained unchanged in response to dietary treatments.

4. Concentrations of serum and egg yolk lycopene, β-carotene, lutein and vitamin A increased for both diets including tomato powder, whereas MDA decreased linearly with increasing supplemental tomato powder concentration.

5. Tomato powder supplementation increased egg production persistency and increased carotenoids and vitamin A contents in egg yolk, accompanied by reduced yolk lipid peroxidation.     

Dietary Wolffia arrhiza meal as a substitute for soybean meal: its effects on the productive performance and egg quality of laying Japanese quails

Wolffia arrhiza meal (WAM) was evaluated as a protein replacement for soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of laying Japanese quails. A total of 480 4-week-old laying quails were randomly allocated to form six groups in a completely randomized design. Each group contained four replicates, with 20 quails per replicate. WAM was incorporated into the diets at levels of 0, 4.00, 8.00, 12.0, 16.0 and 20.0%. The results showed that feed intake per bird per day, daily egg-laying rate, feed cost per 100 egg weight, egg width, egg length, egg weight, eggshell thickness, yolk height and shell quality characteristics in terms of breaking time, Young's modulus, work, maximum force, fracturability, breaking stress, stiffness and power showed no statistically significant differences (P?>?0.05) among the 0 to 16.0% levels of WAM. However, these performance measures were significantly lower with 20.0% WAM in the formulated ration (P?<?0.05). Mortality showed no significant differences among dietary treatments (P?>?0.05). The color intensity of the yolk increased as SBM was replaced with increasing amounts of WAM (P?<?0.05). In conclusion, WAM could be successfully used in place of SBM. However, the amount used should not exceed 16.0%.