Inclusion of Processed Rice Hulls as Insoluble Fiber in the Diet on Performance and Digestive Traits of Japanese Quails

To study the influence of processing of rice hulls (RH), and inclusion of additional fiber in the semi-purified diet on the performance and digestive traits of quails from 7 to 35 day of age; Seven treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design, with 7 sources of fiber (none, 3% raw RH, 3% RH soaked in distilled water, 3% RH boiled in water contained NaCl, 3% autoclaved RH, 3% of two Micronized insoluble fibers) and 5 bird each. Each treatment was replicated four. Growth traits were recorded; digestive traits and litter moisture were measured. Supplementation of processed rice hulls (PRH) was associated with increases in daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio and decrease in feed intake throughout the experimental period (P < 0.01). As processing levels increased, the relative weight of digestive organs was increased (P < 0.01). Supplementation of processed rice hulls resulted in increases in the intestinal villus height, villus thickness, villus height: crypt depth ratio and number of goblet cells, and decrease in litter moisture (P < 0.01). These findings indicated that each RH variety possesses different chemical and physicochemical properties upon processing levels that is suitable for applications in poultry feeds. The Inclusion of 3% PRH in feed resulted in the greatest improvements in quail performance, intestinal morphology, and litter moisture.