Large White turkeys were fed diets containing either normal yellow dent corn (YDC) or a corn mutation containing low phytate phosphorus and high available phosphate corn (HAPC). Diets were considered nutritionally adequate in all respects with various degrees of reduction in available phosphorus content ( - 0.0, - 0.05, - 0.10 or - 0.15% of NRC (1994) recommendations for different feeding periods). These diets were fed with or without the addition of 1000 U/kg of phytase enzyme (Natuphos®, BASF), resulting in a total of 16 dietary treatments. Each treatment was assigned to three pens of 20 male turkeys from day-old to 20 wk of age. Body weight, feed consumption, and tibia ash were determined at 28 d intervals during the study. Male turkeys fed diets with HAPC did not differ significantly in BW or feed conversion (FC) from those fed diets with YDC, and had significantly higher tibia ash at 4, 8, and 12 wk of age. Addition of 1000 U/kg of phytase resulted in significantly higher BW at 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk of age as compared to unsupplemented controls with no significant differences in FC. The addition of phytase significantly improved tibia ash at every age. Dietary phosphorus content had no effect on BW or FC at any age. Reduction of phosphorus generally did not impair tibia ash until reduction of 0.15% below NRC (1994) recommendations. Addition of phytase aided in overcoming the reduction in phosphorus content. The combination of HAPC, addition of phytase, and reduction in dietary phosphorus content should aid in reducing phosphorus excretion without impairing performance.

Key words: Turkeys, phosphorus, high available phosphorus corn, phytase

The addition of hydrated lime to poultry litter to control insects and pathogens has a history of support. We examined the effects of hydrated lime litter treatments on the darkling beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus and the fungal pathogen Aspergillus. Hydrated lime application rates were calculated as poultry house equivalents; 22.6, 45.4, 56.7, 90.7 kg per 93 m² (50, 100, 125 and 200 lbs per 1,000 ft²), ground limestone; 22.6 kg per 93 m² and an untreated control. Among treatment groups, mortality was significantly higher for larvae than for adult beetles. Hydrated lime at the highest rate (90.7 kg per 93 m²) produced 59.1% and 24.6% mortality for larvae and adults, respectively. Limestone did not increase beetle mortality. Darkling beetle mortality was moisture dependent with greatest larval mortality (100%) observed at 90.7 kg/93 m² and 68% moisture while adult mortality was 58.8%. Effects of lime hydrate on the number of bacterial and Aspergillus colony forming units (CFUs) in treated litter was inconclusive. The impact of hydrated lime on beetles and perhaps pathogens in litter is likely the direct effect of increased pH, however the numbers of beetles, and fungal or bacterial CFUs may increase as pH levels become more neutral.

Key words: Darkling beetle, lesser mealworm, poultry pest management, poultry                           disease, Aspergillus

Two floor pen trials were conducted using Nicholas White male turkeys in order to determine the digestible lysine requirements for the 49 to 61 day and the 72 to 83 day feeding periods. Prior to the study, birds were fed a typical corn, soybean meal (SBM) and pork meal based diet. They were then weighed and sorted into 48 floor pens in a curtain-sided building. Dietary treatments included eight levels of digestible lysine ranging from 0.88 to 1.23% in the first trial and 0.68 to 0.96% in the second trial. A high protein positive control treatment was added at the expense of three replicates of the highest lysine level. The lysine deficient basal diet was corn, SBM and pork meal with an intact crude protein level of 18.4% in the first experiment and 15% in the second experiment. The positive control diet was also corn, SBM and pork meal and was formulated on a total AA basis to meet nutrient requirements set by the NRC (1994). Lysine-HCL (98.5%) was used for the titration and glutamic acid was titrated inversely to maintain nitrogen at similar levels. The experiments were set up as a randomized complete block. Splined regression analysis determined the digestible lysine requirement for the 49 to 61 day period to be 1.09% for optimum bodyweight gain and 1.11% for feed conversion. The digestible lysine requirement for the 72 to 83 day period was 0.87 and 0.86% for optimum body weight gain and feed conversion, respectively.

Key words: Turkey, amino acid, lysine, ideal protein

The effects of stocking density on starter performance and of dietary energy on grower performance of ostriches were evaluated in two separate trials. Trial 1 was conducted to evaluate the influence of three different animal density treatments (33.5, 16.8 and 11.2 m²/bird) on survivability and growth of ostrich chicks from 21 to 98 d of age. In Trial 1, chicks were randomly assigned by source and weight to the three density treatments with each density replicated three times and assigned to pens (9.2m x 29.3m) using a complete block design. Trial 2 was conducted to evaluate the effects of three levels of dietary energy (11.71, 12.90 and 14.09 MJ of ostrich TMEn/kg diet) on grower performance from 98 to 146 d of age. In Trial 2, ostriches were randomly assigned by weight to the three dietary treatments with each treatment replicated four times. In Trial 1, animal density had an effect (P<0.05) on body weight, weight gain and feed consumption. Body weight at 98 d of age was higher (P<0.05) for birds grown in the low density (41.5 kg) versus those in the moderate (38.5 kg) and high density (34.7 kg) treatments. Stocking density did not affect (P>0.05) feed to gain ratio. In Trial 2, dietary energy affected (P<0.05) body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency. Body weight at 146 d of age was higher (P<0.05) for birds consuming the high energy (69.1 kg) versus the low (66.0 kg) and moderate (65.5 kg) energy diets. Feed to gain ratio was similarly improved as diet energy level increased. These results provide quantitative information on the impact of available space and dietary energy on performance and have implications on the economics of production and on ostrich chick management.

Key words: Ostriches, stocking density, dietary energy; growth; feed to gain

In order to investigate the effects of locally grown red pepper on egg-yolk colour and egg production in laying hens, twelve diets based on white corn and wheat grain were supplemented by various amounts of red pepper and artificial colouring pigments, and offered to 96 layer hens for 13 weeks from the beginning of the laying circle. The characteristics of egg production and egg-yolk colour were examined under the influence of dietary treatments. The present results showed that egg weight, daily feed intake and egg yield did not significantly differ between the experimental diets, indicating that red chilli can be used as an alternative feed ingredient in layer diet with no significant alterations in the bird performance. Furthermore, the highest colour pigmentation were obtained from the diets ( wheat + yellow corn) with 3.0 and 4.0% red chilli added whereas the lowest colour pigmentation was obtained from the diets (white corn + no wheat) with no chilli or artificial pigments. The most preferred colour pigmentation by the customer was obtained from the diets of 25% yellow corn and 32.4% wheat to which 0.5% red chilli added. Increasing amount of the red chilli in the yellow corn and wheat based diets resulted in an increasing reddish colour pigmentation of egg-yolk. On the other hand, we could not measure the colour of pigmentation by RCF scale of the diets containing only white corn (around 55%) in which the amount of the red chilli ranged from 2.0 to 4.0%. The addition of 0.30 and 0.25% artificial pigments to the diets of white corn and the diets of yellow corn + wheat resulted in optimum colour pigmentation. Although we did not test the interaction effects between the artificial pigments and red chilli on the egg-yolk colour pigmentation, the results suggested that an appropriate combination of artificial and natural colour pigments can be used to obtain optimum egg-yolk colour pigmentation. In short, the red chilli of 4th harvest, which is not suitable for human consumption, did not adversely alter the laying performance, and additionally the use of red chilli as a potential natural colour pigment caused to an optimum egg-yolk colour, especially at the rate of 0.5% in the layer diet.

Key words: Red pepper, layer hens, egg yolk colour

The response of Isa Brown layers during 56 to 72 weeks of age to cassava peel meal (CPM) processed by different methods i.e. ensiling (ECPM), parboiling (PCPM), retting (RCPM) and sun-drying alone (SCPM) as substitutes for maize was investigated. The control diet (CD) contained 40% maize and each of ECPM, PCPM, RCPM and SCPM were used to substitute 50, 75 and 100% of the maize in the CD. Dietary protein ranged from 15-16% while metabolizable energy varied between 2,500 and 2,600 Kcal/kg. Performance in terms of hen-day production and egg weight showed that RCPM could satisfactorily replace up to 75% of maize while the other processed CPMs could not replace maize beyond 50% without jeopardizing these two parameters. The terminal body weights of layers fed 100%RCPM and PCPM at the expense of maize were not affected while ECPM and SCPM beyond 50% substitution level adversely affected body weight. Feed conversion ratio showed a slight improvement with the use of CPM, however, layers on 100%ECPM, 100%PCPM and those on SCPM had a worsened feed conversion compared with the CD. Feed cost per egg produced were better with layers fed processed CPM with the exception of those on sun dried peels. Comparatively, sun drying alone was inadequate for processing cassava peels while retting maintained terminal weight, and had higher savings in terms of feed cost per egg produced.

Key words: Layer, maize, cassava peel meal, substitution

The effect of water restriction on haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens was investigated. A total of ninety six 4-week old Anak broiler birds were used for this study. The birds were divided into 4 treatment groups and within each group, replicated three times at 8 birds per replicate. Different quantities of water were fed to the birds as treatments, that is, ad libitum (T_o), 3.2 liters (T₁), 2.2 liters (T₂), 1.2 liters (T₃) per day in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. The results show that the haematological values were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by severity of water restrictions. However, broilers on T₃ (1.2 liters of water restriction) showed a higher mean value for white blood cell (WBC), which differed, significantly from T_o (control) and T₁ (3.2 liters of water restrictions). The mean values of the chemical constituents (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Cl^-, HCO₃^-) in the sera of the broiler chickens were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by severity of water restrictions. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) for Alkaline phosphatase and Aspartate transaminase enzyme activity but Alanine transaminase showed significant differences (P<0.05) between the treatments. Total protein albumin showed significant (P<0.05) difference between the treatments but serum globulin did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the treatments.

Key words: Water restriction, haematology, serum biochemistry, broiler chickens, tropics

Grass pea is a widely available grain legume that contains a neurotoxin ODAP that has negative effects in humans and animals. Various treatment methods were tested to select methods that are more effective. Socking and cooking at 60, 75, 90^oC and boiling temperatures were found to be relatively effective. Diets containing grass pea prepared using these methods along with diets that contained untreated grass pea and a control that did not contain any grass pea were tested in a broiler trial. Grass pea was included by replacing Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) cake. Four hundred twenty unsexed one day old Cobb broiler chicks of similar body weight were divided into seven groups of 60 and further randomly sub-divided into three replicates of 20 chicks and placed in the experimental pens were used. The study showed that total replacement of Noug cake by boiled grass pea is possible without significantly reducing performance (gain and feed efficiency). Cooking at 90^oC can also be considered pending economic evaluation since it was also similar results to the control diet (p>0.05) in terms of feed efficiency. Performance of broilers on the rations containing grass pea treated using the other methods seem to have depressed performance too much. Comparison of performance during the starter and finisher phases indicates that most of the depressing effects seem to have occurred during the starter phase. There was no visible sign of lathyrism in any of the treatment groups in this study. It is suggested that further economic analysis of using the methods be conducted. Further work on the possibility of using grass pea only during the finisher phase following the apparent reduction of the negative impacts of feeding grass pea at this stage observed in this study is also proposed.

Key words: Broiler, grass pea, lathyrus, ODAP, protein source

An experiment involving 3 metabolizable energy and 3 crude protein levels was used to investigate the influence of dietary protein and energy levels on the early lay characteristics and haematological parameters in 270 sub–humid tropical Pearl guinea fowl hens. The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) earlier age at sexual maturity and higher hen-housed average for birds on the 2750 kcal/kg ME - 18% protein diet than the other diets. Evaluation of the diets based on the responses of guinea fowls suggests that the diet that contains 2750 kcal/kg ME and 18% crude protein excelled in egg number, cost/dozen eggs and survival of birds. However, of the five blood components evaluated, total protein, vitellogenin and serum calcium were optimized by the 2750kcal/kg ME - 16% protein up to 36 weeks of age. Packed cell volume (PCV), total protein, cholesterol, vitellogenin and serum calcium showed no significant variations (P>0.05) among diets as a result of differences in energy or protein content. However, of the blood components evaluated, total protein, vitellogenin and serum calcium in serum were optimized by the 2750kcal/kg ME - 18% protein diet.

Key words: Guinea fowls, protein/energy levels, early lay characteristics

Micronemes are secretary organelles of the invasive stages of all Apicomplascan parasites, and their proteins are crucial for parasite motility, adhesion and host cell invasion. The gene encoding the Microneme-2 protein (EtMIC-2) was isolated from oocysts of the GuangDong strain of Eimeria tenella by RT-PCR of extracted RNA using EtMIC-2 primers designed from a published sequence of the gene. The sequence of the EtMIC-2 gene from the GuangDong strain, Houghton and Beijing strains revealed high homology (99.6 and 99.7% respectively), indicating a limited allelic polymorphism within Eimeria tenella strains for MIC-2 gene. As far as deduced amino acids sequence is concerned, however, there was a difference of only two amino acids between the GuangDong strain and any of the other two strains.

Key words: Eimeria tenella, microneme, GuangDong strain, gene

A study was conducted to estimate the demand for egg and poultry meat for India in 2020. Income elasticities were calculated separately for urban and rural areas using National Sample Survey (NSS) data and were used to project demand for each of the five income groups within urban and rural areas. The results revealed a relatively strong growth for egg and poultry meat both in the urban and rural areas in the next two decades. Egg consumption was found to grow at a much faster pace than poultry meat with the rise in income and nearly triples by 2020. Similarly, average per capita poultry meat consumption was found to increase from 0.69 to 1.28 kilograms during the same period. Overall, the study reports the total egg consumption to increase from 34 billion in 2000 to 106 billion in 2020 and total poultry meat consumption to increase from 687 million kilograms to 1,674 million kilograms during the same time period.

Key words: Indian poultry, meat consumption, egg consumption

Growth performances and feed utilization potentials of six chicken populations were investigated at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia. Five local ecotypes originated from different Agro-ecologies and corresponding market sheds in Ethiopia, namely, Tilili, Horro, Chefe, Jarso, Tepi, and the Fayoumi breed was used as a reference breed. Ecotype had a significant (p<0.01) effect on overall body weight gain per bird and mean body weight gain per bird per day from day old to 12 weeks of age. The highest body weight gain per bird was recorded for Fayoumi chicks. The Fayoumi chicks were 11.9, 97.7 and 49.4% heavier than chicks from Chefe (heaviest locals at this age) ecotype, Jarso (least total body weight gain among the locals at this age) ecotype and mean daily gain of all local ecotypes, respectively at six weeks of age. Chefe chicks ecotypes showed 76.8% positive deviation over chicks from Jarso market sheds in terms of total body weight gain per bird at this age. The Fayoumi chicks consumed 41, 115 and 65% more feed than chicks from Chefe ecotype (highest body weight gain and feed intake among locals at this age), Jarso ecotype (lowest body weight gain and least feed intake among the locals at this age) and the mean feed intake of all local ecotypes, at six weeks of age, respectively. Among the local ecotypes, Jarso and Tepi had the smaller body weight gains while Chefe and Tilili had larger weight gains. The result from the analysis of variance showed a highly significant (p<0.001) difference on body weight gain per bird, average body weight gain per bird per day, feed intake per bird, average feed intake per bird per day and feed conversion ratio (feed: gain) among the different ecotypes and sex from six to 12 weeks of age. The highest body weight gain per bird and mean daily body weight gain per bird per day among the locals were recorded for Tilili growers. The Fayoumi chicks were 28, 77 and 52% heavier than chicks from Tilili ecotypes (heaviest locals at this age), Tepi ecotypes (least total body weight gain among the locals at this age) and mean body weight gain of local birds, respectively. Male growers from Tilili ecotype (heaviest locals at this age), Tepi ecotype (least total body weight gain among the locals at this age) and mean body weight gain of local birds, were 22, 30 and 33% heavier in body weight gain per bird over female chicken at twelve weeks of age, respectively. Feed conversion ratio was also significantly (p<0.01) affected by ecotypes. The highest feed requirement per unit gain was recorded for the Fayoumi chicks followed by chicks from Tepi and Horro chicks and the lowest feed requirement per units of gain was recorded for Tilili and Chefe chicks with feed conversion ratio of 4.95g and 5.2g feed per unit of gain, respectively.

Key words: Growth, feed utilization, local chicken ecotypes, Ethiopia

The objective of the present study is to estimate and compare the costs and returns in deep litter and cage systems of poultry rearing and also to identify the constraints, which affect the poultry production in India. Results of this study reveal that the fixed investment per farm is found to be more on cage system of rearing for all the three size groups. In both systems, the feed cost decrease gradually when the stock size increases except in medium size group in deep litter system and accounts for more than 84% of the total cost of production irrespective of stock size and system of rearing. The cost of production per bird reveal that the cost of permanent and family labor and electricity increase with increase in stock size in case of deep litter system whereas in cage system, it is found to decrease with increase in flock size. The cage system appears to be more efficient than the deep litter system in producing eggs and the feed efficiency increases with decrease in stock size in both the system of rearing. Further, the net returns per farm increase as the size of the farm increases in both the systems and the returns per farm is, however, higher in cage system than in deep litter system in all the three groups. The major constraints in egg production are identified and ranked by using Garrett's Ranking Technique and are in the order of high cost of feed, high cost of medicine and vaccine, supply of poor quality feed and feed ingredients, non remunerative price for eggs, lack of disease control facilities and higher rate of electricity tariff.

Key words: Deep litter, Cage, Indian poultry

A total of 144 day old straight run starbro broiler chicks were fed ad libitum up to 42 days of age on 3 different iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets formulated by replacing dietary fish meal (FM) partially to completely by broiler offal (BO). In 3 diets 0, 4 and 8% BO replaced equal amount of FM to compare growth performance, profitability and meat yield among 3 diets. At 42 day of age, live weight increased almost linearly with increasing levels of dietary BO (P<0.01). Feed consumption was also positively correlated with BO concentration in diet. Feed conversion also improved on increasing levels of dietary BO (P<0.01). But survivability had little relation with dietary BO. Profitability of broiler rearing increased at increasing concentration of BO in diet. Meat yield also increased as BO replaced the dietary FM. It was concluded that replacement of costly conventional dietary FM by unconventional BO could increase performance of broilers with increased profitability and meat yield.

Key words: Profitability, feed consumption, unconventional, broiler offal, fish meal

The present study was conducted on eggs of Japanese quail maintained in cages at the research unit, NWFP, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan. Five hundred eggs selected at random were broken to record data on egg weight (g), egg length (cm), egg width (cm), shell weight (g) and shell thickness (mm). Another 500 eggs were put in the incubator after discarding undesirable eggs and recording data on egg weight, egg length and egg width. Egg weight was better predictable from egg width and length. Following equations were developed to predict egg weight from egg length and width; (Equation 1) Y^= - 3.3133600 + 1.835144(X₁) + 2.655127(X₂), (Equation 2) Y^= 1.970096 + 2.252730(X₃) and (Equation 3) Y^= - 1.0109318 + 3.616882(X₄). Where; "Y^ " was predicted egg weight, X₁ and X₃ the egg length and X₂ and X₄ the egg width for every equation separately. Following equations were developed for predicting eggshell weight from egg weight, length and width; (Equation 4) Y^=- 0.521102+0.310761(X₅) +0.4074 (X₆), (Equation 5) Y^=0.138189+0.062933(X₇) +0.233078(X₈) and (Equation 6) Y^=- 0.001150+0.071568(X₉) +0.311496(X₁₀). Where Y^ was predicted eggshell weight, X₅ and X₈ were egg length, X₆ and X₁₀ are egg width and X₇ and X₉ were egg weight (g), respectively. Shell thickness was predictable with sufficient accuracy from egg weight, width and length and following equations were developed to predict it; (Equation 7) Y^= 0.154646 + 0.076448(X₁₁) and (Equation 8) Y^= 0.154721 + 0.000694(X₁₂) + 0.073939(X₁₃). Where "Y^ " was predicted eggshell thickness, X₁₁ and X₁₃ the egg width and X₁₂ the egg weight for each equation separately. Weight of egg albumin was predictable from the following equations; (Equation 9) Y^= - 0.685557 + 0.460613(X₁₄) + 0.079842(X₁₅) + 0.412241(X₁₆), (Equation 10) Y^= - 0.553150 + 0.468198(X₁₇) + 0.426649(X₁₈), (Equation 11) Y^= 0.279557 + 0.468198(X₁₉) and (Equation 12) Y^= - 2.128934 + 0.925133(X₂₀) + 1.63522(X₂₁). Where "Y^ " was the predicted weight of egg albumin, X₁₄, X₁₇ and X₁₉ the egg weight, X₁₅ and X₂₀ the egg length in cm and X₁₆, X₁₈ and X₂₁ the egg width in cm for each equation separately. Weight of egg yolk could be predicted from the following equations; (Equation 13) Y^= - 0.618041 + 0.339520(X₂₂) + 0.156591(X₂₃), (Equation 14) Y^= - 0.303204 + 0.355813(X₂₄), (Equation 15) Y^= 0.003214 + 1.141682(X₂₅) and (Equation 16) Y^= 0.050845 + 0.921437(X₂₆). Where, Y^ was predicted weight of egg yolk, X₂₂ and X₂₄ were the egg weight in grams, X₂₃ and X₂₅ the egg width in cm and X₂₆ the egg length in cm for each equation separately. Weight of the newborn chick was better predictable from egg weight, width, length and egg shape index (equation 17). Y^ = -5.558612 + 0.629504(X₂₇) - 0.839306(X28) + 1.246874(X₂₉) + 0.050482(X₃₀) . Where; "Y^ " will be the predicted weight of the new born chick, "X₂₇" the egg weight, "X₂₈" the egg width, "X₂₉" the egg length and "X₃₀" the egg shape index. The equations developed for each trait are to be used in the order given to ensure better accuracy of the results.

Key words: Chick weight, egg weight, egg length and width, shell weight and shell                          thickness

A total of 144 day-old straight run Arbor Acres broiler chicks were fed on 4 iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets; starter control contained 22.1% CP and 2924 Kcal/kg ME and finisher control had 19.25% CP and 3005 Kcal/kg ME. In three test diets exogenous Alquerzim (1g/kg), Roxazyme-G (0.01g/kg) and Feedzyme (0.05g/kg) were supplemented to control diet to observe whether addition exogenous enzyme improves efficiency of broiler production. The growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion, dressing yield and profitability were increased by addition of exogenous enzymes. The addition of enzyme is effective to overcome antinutritive effect of NSP on broiler performances. Enzyme had no effect on survivability. Roxazyme-G and Feedzyme are more profitable than Alquerzim. Therefore, it may be concluded that exogenous enzyme may be used in broiler diet by proper selection of enzyme to get best result.

Key wards: Exogenous enzyme, Broiler, Growth rate, Feed in take, F.C.R., Dressing yield

A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the antioxidant vitamin A, for reducing aflatoxicosis in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) from hatch to 35 d of age. Sixty Japanese quail chicks were randomly divided into four groups, three treatments and one control. Control group was fed a basal diet while the treatment diets were supplemented with vitamin A (15,000 IU/kg feed), vitamin A (15,000 IU/kg) + low level of aflatoxin B₁ (100 ug/kg) or aflatoxin B₁ (100 ug/kg). The liver was swollen and a bright yellow color; microscopically fatty metamorphosis, necrotic areas and infiltration of polymorphonuclears were observed in aflatoxin B₁ group and was not seen in any other groups. Compared to control, aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) reduced body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) by 9.3 and 7.6 % respectively. The addition of 15,000 IU/kg of vitamin A without aflatoxin B₁ improved quail growth performance. Dietary vitamin A had affect on BWG and feed consumption (P<0.05) and reduced the toxic effects of AFB₁, addition resulted less toxicity in the liver and kidney than AFB₁ group. FC was found significantly important during third and fourth weeks in vitamin A and AFB₁ added group (P<0.05) FCR was also better than AFB₁ group. The concentration of liver function enzymes serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased when AFB₁ was added to the diet, whereas the supplementation of the diet Vitamin A partially decreased this negative effects. These results demonstrate that vitamin A plays a complex role in the process of chemical aflatoxicosis and when added at 15.000 IU/kg in the diet can provide protection against the harmful effects of AFB₁ for experimental period in Japanese quail.

Key words: Feed, Japanese quail, vitamin A, aflatoxin B₁ Toxicity