Investigation on Biochemically Processed Castor Seed Meal in Nutrition and Physiology of Japanese Quails

Native de-oiled and treated castor seed meal was subjected to proximate analysis and quantification of anti-nutrients (phytochemicals). Seed cake was treated by biochemical technique of solid state fermentation with Aspergillus niger and addition of calcium oxide (CaO) to give treated castor seed meal (TCSM). One hundred and twenty Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were fed four (4) iso-nitrogemous and iso-caloric diets containing 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% TCSM corresponding to the diet 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. While the feeding trial lasted for 56 days, feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Data on proximate composition showed that raw seed, defatted residue (cake) and the processed castor seed meal contained valuable nutrients like dry matter, crude protein, fat, fibre, mineral matter and soluble carbohydrate (NFE). Phytochemical quantification gave high levels of the anti-nutrients such as ricin, allergens, ricinine in the raw seed. However, levels of these phytochemicals were reduced by defatting and treatments of the cake meal by solid state fermentation, A. niger and CaO. Performance traits indicated decreases in feed intake, weight gain, growth and increases in mortality rates especially on the diet with the highest (7.5%) inclusion of TCSM compared to the control diet (P