REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE-QUAIL FED TALL FESCUE SEED INFECTED WITH ACREMONIUM-COENOPHIALUM

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of feeding endophyte-infected (Acremonium coenophialum) tall fescue seed on the growth and reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). One hundred and twenty female and 60 male chicks (5 weeks old) were selected from a larger group of chicks and were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments (Diet 1, Diet 2 and Diet 3). Two females and one male were housed in each of 60 battery breeder cages. A quail breeder diet was formulated to contain 45% fescue seed plus corn, soybean meal, vitamins and minerals. The fescue seed used for Diet 1 was 100% endophyte infected, while that used for Diet 2 and Diet 3 was not infected. Birds on Diet 1 and Diet 2 were fed on an ad libitum basis, while the feed intake of birds on Diet 3 was restricted to that of birds on Diet 1. The daily photoperiod of 6 hours was increased to 16 hours by 60 days of age, at which time the hens began to lay eggs. Dietary treatments were star-ted at 35 days of age. Eggs were collected daily, set weekly and incubated through hatching. The results indicated no differences (P>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) or average daily intake (ADI) among the 3 treatments. There was also no difference (P>0.05) in egg production among the 3 treatments. However, there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the percentage of fertility (approximately 10%) and in the percentage of hatchability of the total number of eggs (approximately 12%) between Diet 2 and Diet 3 versus Diet 1. There was no significant difference in the hatchability of fertile eggs. The results suggest, for the first time, that infected fescue seed, as incorporated in the diets of birds in the current experiment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on fertility but not on embryonic development in Japanese quail.