DEVELOPMENT OF PIGEON FEED FOR COMMERCIAL SQUAB PRODUCTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA BY GWENITH A. WALDIE B.Sc.(Agr.), University of British Columbia, 1982 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Animal Science) We accept, this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 3 JULY 1986 (g^ GWENITH A. WALDIE, 1986 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia. I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of ftwiMAk Sci£Nc£ The University of British Columbia 1956 Main Mall Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Y3 DE-6 (3/81) ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the protein and energy requirements of squabbing pigeons. The firBt experiment was carried out at a commercial farm, with birds housed in pens, each containing 10-12 pairs. Two pelleted feeds of different protein concentrations (low protein (LP) with l&V. CP and 2937 kcal ME/kg, and high protein (HP) with 22% CP and 2783 kcal ME/kg) were fed, with and without whole yellov corn, cafeteria-style. A low protein intake was observed with LP + corn, which adversely affected squab growth and livability, without affecting egg production traits or adult body weight. HP without corn resulted in a high protein intake with no effect on squab production. The other two treatments (HP + corn and LP) had intermediate protein intake while squab production was unaffected. It was concluded that the cafeteria feeding program (HP + corn) may be replaced by a single pelleted ration, such as LP, without adversely affecting squab production. The second experiment was carried out at the new UBC Pigeon Nutrition Unit, to determine the requirement for, and utilization of, different fat sources by pigeons. Birds were housed in pair-cages and fed one of 5 pelleted rations, with 35 pairs per treatment. The treatments consisted of a basal diet (with no added fat , 15% crude protein and 2650 kcal ME/kg) to which was added either sunflower oil <SFO) or animal tallow (AT) at levels of 3V. or &'/.. Birds fed the basal diet produced no squabs, vhereas those on other treatments produced at least & squabs. Intake data from the first seven weeks of the trial indicated that pigeons eat to meet an energy requirement of approximately 235 kcal HE per pair per week when not producing squabs. Energy intake of those adults raising squabs vas highly variable and did not appear to correlate with squab production. The source of fat did not significantly v affect squab production. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS page ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF FIGURES vii LIST OF APPENDICES viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix I INTRODUCTION 1 II LITERATURE REVIEW 4 REPRODUCTION AND BREEDER MANAGEMENT IN PIGEONS 4 NUTRITION OF PIGEONS 9 A) Introduction 9 B) Factors Affecting Feed Intake By Pigeons 11 C) Proteins 14 D) Energy 17 i)Carbohydrates iiJFats E) Vitamins and Minerals 19 III EXPERIMENT ONE: EFFECT OF DIETARY PROTEIN LEVELS ON THE SQUAB PRODUCTION OF A PIGEON FLOCK IN A FLOOR PEN HOUSE, FED PELLETS WITH OR WITHOUT CORN, CAFETERIA-STYLE 28 Introduction 28 Materials and Methods 30 Results 36 Discussion 40 iv page IV EXPERIMENT TWO: EFFECT OF SOURCE AND CONCENTRATION OF DIETARY ENERGY ON THE SQUAB PRODUCTION OF A PIGEON FLOCK IN PAIR-CAGES 47 Introduction 47 Materials and Methods 49 Results 55 Discussion 70 V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 77 VI LITERATURE CITED 80 VII APPENDIX aa v LIST OF TABLES Table page 1. Composition of Diets fed in Experiment One 31 2. Effect of dietary treatment on feed and nutrient intakes, Experiment One 37 3. Treatment effects on body weights of growing squabs, Experiment One 38 4. Production traits of pigeons fed pellets of different protein levels,fed with or without corn, cafeteria-style, Experiment One 41 5. Effect of dietary treatment on initial and final adult body weights, Experiment One 42 6. Composition of Diets fed in Experiment Two 51 7. Effect of dietary energy source and concentration on feed and nutrient intake, Experiment Two 59 8. Effect of dietary fat source and Concen• tration on initial and final adult body weights, Experiment Two £1 9. Weekly body weights of growing squabs in Experiment Two 63 10. Comparison of body weights of squabs raised as one- versus two-squab nests, Experiment Two 65 11. Effect of dietary energy source and concentration on pigeon production traits, Experiment Two 69 12. Effect of mode of incubation (natural or artificial) on squab production, Experiment Two 71 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page> 1. Effect of dietary treatments on body weights of growing squabs, Experiment One 39 2. Feed intake of pigeons on Experiment Two 56 3. Metabolizable enery intake of pigeons on Experiment Two 57 4. Crude Protein intake of pigeons on Experiment Two 58 5. Egg Production, Experiment Two 68 vii LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix page 1. Squab mortality in Experiment One 88 2. Number of Squabs Hatched over Time, Experiment Two 89 3. Identification of squabs produced in Experiment Two 90 viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to my thesis advisor. Dr. J. S. Sim, for providing valuable guidance and assistance throughout the course of my graduate program. Sincere thanks are also due to the other members of my advisory committee: Dr. K. M. Cheng, Dr. R. C. Fitzsimmons, and Professor B. E. March, for their helpful criticisms of the preliminary draft of this thesis and for their valuable advice during my program. My gratitude is also extended to the many who have helped me, particularly the management of Vancouver Island Mountain Squab Farm, Andrew R. Hickman, Mark Newcombe, Dr. R. I. McKay, and the graduate students and laboratory communities of both Animal Science and Poultry Science. I am grateful to the B.C. Science Council for supporting my research with a G.R.E.A.T. award, and to the Jacob Biely Memorial Scholarship Committee for choosing me as the recipient of this award in 1985. ix INTRODUCTION: The pigeon has been used as a meat-producing species around the world for centuries. Traditionally, pigeon producers and breeders have fed their birds a mixture of available local grains and a health grit (see page 26). As in any livestock industry, balanced feed is a basic requirement for efficient production. Unfortunately, thex-e is only limited information available on the dietary requirements for specific nutrients or on experimentally-proven balanced feed formulas for pigeons. Much research has been directed towards defining what constitutes a well-balanced ration under various developmental and physiological conditions of chickens and turkeys. It is only recently that research efforts have been directed to other game birds such as quail, ducks, geese, pheasant and guinea fowl, and such information is not yet available for squabbing pigeons. Pigeons differ from other poultry in that their mating and brooding system (pair-bond formation and the dependence of young on the parents) requires the maintenance of a parent flock (referred to as "breeders"). The breeder flock consists of pairs, each of which produces approximately 12-15 squabs per year. A squab is a young pigeon, marketed at 28-35 days of age, weighing approximately 550-600 grams. 1 For the first 5 to 7 days of life, the altricial squabs are fed exclusively on a secretions of the crop of the adults called "crop milk". A squab-producing industry has existed in North America since the early 1900's (Levi, 1974). In the United States, annual production is over one million squab (Cheng, 1986). This figure represents 1% of the world production of squab. In Europe, annual consumption is in the millions, with France and Italy comprising the major market. Southeast Asian countries are heavy consumers of pigeons. In Hong Kong, annual consumption is approximately 5.5 million, (an average of one per capita >. The projected demand for squabs in Canada is estimated to be 500,000 per year (Marketing Research, Vancouver Island Mountain Squab Farm, 1983). The ethnic communities of Chinese, French and Italians comprise the projected market. The Chinese community in Vancouver, numbering around 200,000, currently represent 80% of the Vancouver market and it is estimated that this community will consume 200,000 squabs (an average of one squab per capita.) Hence a healthy local market is assured. The local product has a marketing advantage over the imported product, as it can be prepared "New York 3 dressed", which the Chinese prefer. Vancouver Island Mountain Squab Farm (V.I.M.) and another contract distributor in Quebec have been importing about 120,000 squabs per year from the U.S.A. since 1982 (Cheng, 1986). This is indicative of a healthy nation-wide market. V.I.M., located in Lantzville, B.C., has a capacity for 10,000 pairs of pigeons, which translates into a possible annual production of 120,000 to 150,000 squabs for the local market. V.I.M has been collaborating with the U.B.C. Department of Poultry Science since 1982 to develop a feeding program for its breeding flock. The following thesis reports the results of this project, aimed at advancing the knowledge of nutrition of commercial squabbing pigeons in B.C., so that the results can be directly applied to the industry.