Serum Biochemical Parameters of Laying Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Fed Diets Containing Fermented Taro Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta) Meal

The study was conducted to examine the size of the damage in tissue, especially the liver by fermented taro cocoyam meal on laying Japanese quails. Two hundred and twenty five Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments (I–V) of 36 hens and 9 cockerels each. Each treatment was replicated thrice with 12 hens and 3 cockerels per replicate. In each of the five diets, 48 hours fermented taro cocoyam meal (Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta) was used to replace maize at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively. Serum Na +, K+, Cl- , HCO3-, Creatinine, ALT, AST and Total bilirubin were determined on the 70th day. The results of serum biochemistry showed that, Cl-, HCO3-, Creatinine, ALT and AST were within normal range. However, it was observed that serum K+ increased above the upper limit whereas serum Na+ was slightly below the lower limit in all the treatments. Total bilirubin was above normal range beyond 25% replacement of maize in the diets. It was concluded that, beyond 25% inclusion levels of cocoyam in quails’ diets, nutrients supplied were insufficient for basic maintenance and metabolic functions for laying quails.