[The Effects of Sardine and Palm Oil in Rations on the Ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 Fatty Acids in Eggs of Coturnix coturnix japonica]

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of sardine and palm oil in the ration on the performance and ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in egg of Japanese quail. The 210 quail were divided randomly into 7 groups and were fed on : T1 = commercial feed; T2 = rice bran + corn + concen-trate; T3 = T2 + 8 % palm oil; T4 = T2 + 6 % palm oil and 2 % sardine oil; T5 = T2 + 4 % palm oil and 4 % sardine oil; T6 : T2 + 2 % palm oil and 6 % sardine oil; and T7 = T2 + 8 % sardine oil, respectively. The experimental treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. The results showed that the consumption, egg production, and feed conversion were significantly differ-ent (P<0.01) among treatments. The use of palm and sardine oil in the ration decreased cholesterol content but it increased Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in egg. The inclusion of sardine oil in the ration could improve the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids in the egg. Keywords : sardine oil, palm oil,omega-3, Japanese quail egg