Effect of replacing soybean meal protein with sunflower seed meal in iso-nitrogenous diets on the performance of laying quails

Sunflower seed meal from two commercial sources i.e. expeller processed (SSM-A) and solvent extracted (SSM-B) were evaluated as a replacement for soybean meal protein in laying quail rations from 8 to 21 weeks age. The dietary treatments consisted of a control with soybean meal (SBM) as a plant protein supplement and eight test diets in which SBM protein was replaced by SSM-A and SSM-B each at four inclusion levels of 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30 per cent by weight. Results indicated that on diets containing both types of sunflower oil cake (SSM-A and SSM-B) at 7.5, 15 and 22.5 percent, hen-day egg production, egg weight, efficiency of protein and energy utilization remained comparable to that on control diet with soybean meal. Further increase in the level to 30% significantly reduced the egg production, egg weight and nutrient utilization. Egg quality characteristics viz., shell thickness, albumen and yolk indices were not influenced among different dietary treatments. The serum cholesterol concentration decreased with increase in the dietary inclusion level of Sunflower oil meals.