Nutritional Quality of Quail Feeds Used in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Uganda: Chemical and Energy Composition

Quail production is steadily gaining importance in developing countries like Uganda, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. However, inappropriate feeding practices such as using the same feed classes across different growth stages or beyond the recommended growth stages have been reported among quail farmers. This study evaluated the nutritional properties of quail diets used in urban and peri-urban areas of Uganda. Samples of three classes of quail feeds (starter, grower, and layer diets) were collected from quail farmers and poultry feed suppliers in Mukono, Kampala, and Wakiso districts. The samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), ether extract, crude fiber (CF), ash, calcium, phosphorus, and gross energy contents and then metabolizable energy (ME) contents of the samples were calculated. The data were compared with the minimum dietary specifications recommended for quails in the tropics. Results revealed a high variation in the nutritional quality and that the diets did not conform to the recommended specifications. The average CP contents of starter and grower diets from farmers (17% and 15.9%, respectively) and feed suppliers (15.7% and 16.8%, respectively) were far lower (P < 0.05) than the minimum specifications for low-protein diets (24% and 20%, respectively). The average ME contents for all the feed classes were also lower (P < 0.05) than the minimum specifications. The diets were characterized by high ash and CF contents (averages ranged between 17.1-20.2% for ash and 5.5-6.3% for CF). The chemical and energy values obtained were in the range reported for chicken diets (in Uganda), which points to the use of diets formulated for chickens in quail feeding. In conclusion, it is necessary to train and sensitize quail farmers and feed suppliers about the benefits of using quail diets with adequate protein content, preferably produced based on protein sources that attract less or no competition from humans. Future research should identify such protein sources, their nutritional properties, and their potential use in quail diets.