2.3. Sources of other feed ingredients and diet formulation

Maize grain (yellow), canola oil and salt (sodium chloride) were bought from Makro Wholesalers (Woodmead, Johannesburg, SA). Trouw Nutrition Group (Isando, Johannesburg, SA) supplied the vitamin-mineral premix, methionine and lysine. Wheat bran, feed grade limestone and soyabean meal were purchased from Meadow Feed Company (Johannesburg, SA). Prior to use the maize grain was milled. Four Japanese quail finisher diets (isocaloric and isonitrogenous) were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of finishing Japanese quail as prescribed by the National Research Council (NRC,1994). In the diets MZSM replaced MM on a gross energy basis at 0%, 12.5%, 25% and 37.5%, respectively. Dietary ingredients (as fed) and chemical composition of the diets are shown in Table 1.

Ingredient and chemical composition of the diets.

The figures in parenthesis show the percent replacement of MM with MZSM on a gross energy basis. M. zeyheri seed meal inclusion is on a % gross energy contribution of maize meal.