Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail
Abstract This study evaluated the effects of incorporating full-fat crocodile offal meal (COM) in Jumbo quail diets as a replacement for soybean meal. A total of 256, one-week-old quail were assigned to 32 cages (8 birds/cage) in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment. F...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | Discover Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00214-7 |
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| author | AKho Gila Anderson Njoroge Maina Caven Mguvane Mnisi |
| author_facet | AKho Gila Anderson Njoroge Maina Caven Mguvane Mnisi |
| author_sort | AKho Gila |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study evaluated the effects of incorporating full-fat crocodile offal meal (COM) in Jumbo quail diets as a replacement for soybean meal. A total of 256, one-week-old quail were assigned to 32 cages (8 birds/cage) in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment. Four diets were formulated: a control diet with no COM and three others containing 50 (COM5), 100 (COM10), and 150 g/kg COM (COM15). Body weight was recorded weekly, and daily feed intake was monitored to calculate the gain-to-feed ratio. At 5 weeks, post-slaughter measurements were taken. Weekly feed intake was significantly affected (P < 0.05), with COM15 having the lowest and COM5 the highest intake values (P < 0.001). COM5 yielded the greatest weight gain (P < 0.001) and higher survival rates (P < 0.001) compared to the other groups. Organ, breast, and thigh weights were generally higher in COM5. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels were elevated in the COM5 and COM15 diets (P < 0.05), while the Control showed lower SDMA. Feed digestibility, cholesterol, and water-holding capacity increased linearly (P < 0.05) with COM inclusion, while large intestine sizes decreased. Survival rates, organ weights, and muscle yields exhibited linear and quadratic trends (P < 0.05). Negative quadratic effects were observed for glucose and calcium, while positive ones were observed for haemoglobin and amylase. In conclusion, a 50 g/kg COM inclusion provided optimal results for quail performance, while higher levels negatively impacted outcomes, suggesting further research on COM inclusion levels. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a641d3db79d64ec181a3c93a433a4cde |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2731-9598 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-a641d3db79d64ec181a3c93a433a4cde2025-08-20T03:15:14ZengSpringerDiscover Agriculture2731-95982025-04-013111410.1007/s44279-025-00214-7Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quailAKho Gila0Anderson Njoroge Maina1Caven Mguvane Mnisi2Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West UniversityFood Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West UniversityFood Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West UniversityAbstract This study evaluated the effects of incorporating full-fat crocodile offal meal (COM) in Jumbo quail diets as a replacement for soybean meal. A total of 256, one-week-old quail were assigned to 32 cages (8 birds/cage) in a completely randomized design, with eight replicates per treatment. Four diets were formulated: a control diet with no COM and three others containing 50 (COM5), 100 (COM10), and 150 g/kg COM (COM15). Body weight was recorded weekly, and daily feed intake was monitored to calculate the gain-to-feed ratio. At 5 weeks, post-slaughter measurements were taken. Weekly feed intake was significantly affected (P < 0.05), with COM15 having the lowest and COM5 the highest intake values (P < 0.001). COM5 yielded the greatest weight gain (P < 0.001) and higher survival rates (P < 0.001) compared to the other groups. Organ, breast, and thigh weights were generally higher in COM5. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels were elevated in the COM5 and COM15 diets (P < 0.05), while the Control showed lower SDMA. Feed digestibility, cholesterol, and water-holding capacity increased linearly (P < 0.05) with COM inclusion, while large intestine sizes decreased. Survival rates, organ weights, and muscle yields exhibited linear and quadratic trends (P < 0.05). Negative quadratic effects were observed for glucose and calcium, while positive ones were observed for haemoglobin and amylase. In conclusion, a 50 g/kg COM inclusion provided optimal results for quail performance, while higher levels negatively impacted outcomes, suggesting further research on COM inclusion levels.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00214-7Growth performanceMeat qualityProtein sourcesQuailSoybean replacementWaste upcycling |
| spellingShingle | AKho Gila Anderson Njoroge Maina Caven Mguvane Mnisi Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail Discover Agriculture Growth performance Meat quality Protein sources Quail Soybean replacement Waste upcycling |
| title | Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail |
| title_full | Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail |
| title_fullStr | Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail |
| title_short | Utilisation of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) offal meal waste by-products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for Jumbo quail |
| title_sort | utilisation of nile crocodile crocodylus niloticus offal meal waste by products as a novel protein substrate in the formulation of diets for jumbo quail |
| topic | Growth performance Meat quality Protein sources Quail Soybean replacement Waste upcycling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00214-7 |
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