Nutritional, Productive, and Qualitative Characteristics of European Quails Fed with Diets Containing Lipid Sources of Plant and Animal Origin

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study focused on evaluating the impact of different alternative lipid sources in the diet of meat quails. The researchers investigated nutrient metabolism, performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Two experiments were conducted, the first of which analyzed the energy values and metabolizability of various lipid sources. Surprisingly, no significant differences were observed in energy values and metabolizability among the different lipid sources. However, variations were found in the metabolizability of crude protein and ether extract. Based on these findings, the second experiment assessed performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Notably, the inclusion of distilled corn oil had positive effects on carcass yield and skin/meat color parameters. This study demonstrates the successful incorporation of alternative lipid sources into the diet of meat quails, with no compromise to performance and carcass characteristics. These findings provide valuable insights into improving nutrition and meat quality, benefiting both the quail industry and society as a whole. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of alternative lipid sources on nutrient metabolism, performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in European quails. Trial 1 determined the energy values and nutrient metabolizability of non-conventional lipid sources. Six treatments (control, soybean oil, conventional corn oil, distilled corn oil, poultry fat, and beef tallow) were randomly assigned with 10 replicates per treatment. Trial 2 evaluated animal performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality using a randomized design with five treatments and 10 replicates each. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen (AMEn) and coefficients of metabolizability (CM%) among the lipid sources. The AMEn values found were 8554 for soybean oil, 7701 for corn, 7937 for distilled corn oil, 7906 for poultry fat, and 7776 for beef tallow (kcal/kg). The CM values were 88.01% for soybean oil, 79.01% for corn oil, 84.10% for distilled corn oil, 81.43% for poultry fat, and 79.28% for beef tallow. The inclusion of lipid sources of plant and animal origin in the diet of 7–35-day old meat quails did not influence performance or carcass and cut characteristics. The inclusion of distilled corn oil increased carcass yield and influenced skin and meat color parameters. AMEn values varied for each lipid source. The inclusion of distilled corn oil positively influenced skin and meat color as well as carcass yield in quails.