Evaluation of nutritional value of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus) in the laying quails production

P?ginas 15-21En el presente estudio se evalu? el valor nutricional de la alcachofa (Cynara scolymus) suministrada a codornices de postura (Coturnix jap?nica). Se determin? sus efectos en par?metros productivos, costos de alimentaci?n, niveles de colesterol y triglic?ridos sangu?neos, pH fecal, microbiolog?a del tracto intestinal, heces, histolog?a del intestino delgado y alometr?a de ?rganos digestivos. Se emplearon 90 codornices de postura divididas en 5 tratamientos, 3 r?plicas y 6 aves en cada una, alimentadas por diez semanas. Los tratamientos 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5 conten?an alcachofa en 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% y 4% en la dieta, respectivamente. Los resultados de las variables productivas no mostraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05), al igual que el pH fecal, colesterol sangu?neo, ancho de vellosidades intestinales y peso de los ?rganos digestivos. A pesar de ello los mejores resultados se encontraron en los animales alimentados con alcachofa. En el peso del huevo (10.07g vs. 10.63g), niveles de triglic?ridos sangu?neos (837 mg/dl vs. 379.3 mg/dl), longitud de vellosidades (242.13 ?m vs. 382.8 ?m) y profundidad de las criptas (51.9 ?m vs. 71.5 ?m) se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05). No se aisl? Salmonella en ninguno de los tratamientos y un conteo menor de coliformes fecales se observ? en los tratamientos con alcachofa. Se determin? que el tratamiento cinco fue el de menor costo de producci?n parcial. Se concluye que la inclusi?n de alcachofa en la alimentaci?n de codornices de postura mejora los resultados productivos y las funciones fisiol?gicas intestinales de los animales.ABSTRACT. Nutritional value of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus) in the production of laying quails was evaluated, determining its effects in the productive parameters, nourishment costs, levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, fecal pH, microbiology of the intestinal tract and faeces, histology of the small intestine and allometry of digestive organs. 90 laying quails were used, which were divided into 5 treatments, 3 replicas and 6 birds in each one, they were fed for ten weeks. Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained artichoke in 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% of inclusion in the diet, respectively. Neither the results of the productive variables, nor the fecal pH, cholesterol in the blood, width of intestinal down and weight of digestive organs showed significant differences (p<0.05). However the best results were in the animals fed with artichoke. In the weight of the egg (10.07 g vs. 10.63 g), levels of triglycerides in the blood (837 mg/dl vs. 379.3 mg/dl), length of down (242, 13 ?m vs. 382.8 ?m) and depth of crypts (51,9 ?m vs. 71.5 ?m) significant differences were found (p<0.05). Salmonella was not isolated in any of the treatments and a smaller count of fecal coliforms was determined in the treatments with artichoke. Treatment 5 had the lowest cost in partial production. In sum, the inclusion of artichoke in the feeding of laying quails improves both the productive results and the intestinal physiological functions of animals