Effects of Salbutamol on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

The effects of feeding diets containing Salbutamol (0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 mg/kg diet) from 21 to 49 days of age on growth performance and carcass characteristics in 180 male and 180 female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were studied using a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design. Gender had significant effect on weight gain (P<0.05). Salbutamol in the diets increased weight gains but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Salbutamol increased (P<0.05) weight gains in both sexes, but the magnitude of increasing was greater in females. Weight gain in males and females receiving the diet containing 7 mg Salbutamol/kg increased by 13 and 10 g, respectively compared to the control groups. Food intake was affected by Salbutamol and was higher (P<0.01) in female than male quails. Diets containing Salbutamol increased food intake in male and decreased in female quails (P<0.01) compared with the control groups. Food intake was lowest in females fed 7 mg Salbutamol/kg diet. The food conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (better) (P<0.05) in females than in males. FCR were improved (P>0.05) by Salbutamol administration. Gender affected leg weight (P<0.05), breast weight, relative weight of leg and liver weight (P<0.01). The breast weight, leg weight and liver weight were significantly higher in females than males but relative weight of leg was significantly lower (P<0.01) in females. The breast weight, relative weight of breast and relative weight of leg were significantly affected by Salbutamol. Gender, Salbutamol and their interactions did not affect the chemical composition of breast muscle. The results of the experiment demonstrated that, Salbutamol had beneficial effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics and it seems that feeding 7 mg Salbutamol/kg diet was more effective in female than male Japanese quails.