PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary coffee ground supplementation on the carcass traits, meat quality, and faecal pathogenic bacteria of Japanese quails. A completely randomised design (CRD) was employed using 180 nine-week-old male quails, which were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: a control diet (T1) and control diets supplemented with 10 g/kg (T2) and 20 g/kg (T3) of coffee grounds. Each treatment consisted of five replicates with 12 birds per replicate, all maintained on an ad libitum feeding and watering regimen. At the end of the experiment, samples were taken from each treatment for evaluation of carcass traits and meat quality, and samples of faeces were analysed for bacterial populations. The findings revealed that the dietary treatment of 10 and 20 g/kg of coffee grounds significantly (P<0.05) increased carcass traits. The percentage of commercial cuts and internal organs was favourably enhanced. Dry matter and crude protein content of breast meat were also increased (P<0.05) when the coffee grounds were fed. When fed, the breast meat dry matter and crude protein content were increased, and the yellowness (b*) of the breast meat and skin improved at 0 and 24 hours post-slaughter. Notably, the 10 and 20 g/kg of coffee ground diets caused a significant (P<0.01) decrease of E. coli and Salmonella spp. in their faeces. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 10-20 g/kg of coffee grounds in 15-week-old Japanese quails enhanced carcass yield, improved meat quality, and exerted potent antimicrobial effects by suppressing faecal pathogenic bacteria.