The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary organic selenium (Se) supplementation on productive and reproductive performances (egg production, body weight, egg quality and hatchability) of the Japanese Quail. A total of 72 Japanese Quails of 10 weeks age (60 laying females and 12 adult males) were randomly and equally allocated to 4 Dietary groups each with 3 replicates of 5 females and 1 male (n=18). Four dietary groups T0, T1, T2 and T3 were formulated by adding 0.0, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 ppm Se with the maize based basal diets. Results demonstrated that the hen day egg production reduced (p<0.05) at T3 group without altering the feed intake, body weight and survivability of the birds. Albumen index, Yolk index and Haugh unit were found to be higher (p<0.05) in the eggs of T1 and T3 bird groups. The fertility and hatchability were also higher (p<0.05) on T1 and T2 bird groups in compared that of T0 and T3 bird groups. Embryonic mortality were found to be significantly lower (p<0.05) on T1 and T2 groups during the whole incubation period. The weight of ovary, oviduct and number of ovarian follicles did not differ among the treatment groups, but damaged liver and cystic ovarian follicles were observed at T3 group. The present study reveals that dietary supplementation of 0.25 ppm organic Se has positive effect on the productive and reproductive performances of Japanese quail.

Keywords: Organic Selenium, Productive, Reproductive, Performance, Japanese Quail

The study was carried out to investigate productive and reproductive performances of crossbreds and indigenous dairy cows. A total of 200 dairy cows belonging to 10 farms of Sylhet district were selected randomly of which 50 cows were Holstein Friesian cross, 50 cows were Sahiwal cross, 50 cows were Sindhi cross and 50 were indigenous breed. The highest average milk yields day -1 cow -1 and total lactation yield cow -1 was observed in Holstein Friesian cross (9.82±2.92; 2899.13±1280.52 liter) followed by Sahiwal cross (6.13±2.85, 1773.60±1107.68 liter), Sindhi cross (4.35±1.12; 1127.24±342.32 liter) and indigenous cows (2.41±0.72; 541.42±144.71 liter). The lactation period (days) of crossbreds dairy cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher than native indigenous cows. The postpartum heat period and calving to first service were highest in Sindhi cross and indigenous cows. The age at first calving (months) was almost similar in different crossbred cows but significantly (p<0.01) higher in indigenous cows. Considering all the parameters studied, Holstein Friesian cross showed better performance followed by Sahiwal cross, Sindhi cross and indigenous cows.

Keywords: Crossbreds, dairy cows, indigenous, productive and reproductive performance