author(s)
Smruti Smita Mohapatra, G Suganya, V Leela and Bhaskaran Ravi Latha

abstract
A study was conducted on 240 Japanese quail birds (Coturnix coturnix japonica) from day old to six weeks of age to evaluate the effect of magmeal supplementation on haematological parameters at Madras Veterinary College, Chennai. The birds were divided into 4 groups with 20 birds each in each group in 3 replicates and fed with diet replacing fish meal with magmeal at varying proportion - G₁ (Control group with 7%), G₂ (50%), G₃ (75%) and G₄ (100%). The effect of magmeal inclusion on hematological parameters suggested that there was a significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration in G₂ and G₃ when compared G₁ and then significantly increased (P < 0.01) in G_4. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin concentration between the groups on the inclusion of magmeal at six weeks of age. But there was a significantly high increase (P < 0.01) in hemoglobin concentration at six weeks than at three weeks of age of birds in control and experimental groups of Japanese quails. The highest hemoglobin concentration observed was 14.98 ± 0.10 g/dL in G₃ at six weeks of age. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in total erythrocyte count as the percentage of magmeal inclusion increased within the groups at three and six weeks of age. There was no significant difference observed in total leucocyte count between the control and experimental groups and between the three and six weeks upon the inclusion of magmeal at different levels. There was no significant difference in differential count between the three weeks and six weeks of age in control and experimental groups of Japanese quails. Thus it was concluded the inclusion of magmeal can possibly lead to increase in poultry production and consequent economic affordability to the much needed animal protein.