The results on egg weight are presented in Table 3.
Significant differences were observed in egg weights
among the experimental groups (P < 0:001) throughout
the experimental periods. Birds in Groups 1 and 3 (5%
and 25% PSM, respectively) layed smaller eggs than the
birds fed with the unsupplemented diet (11.60, 11.59 g;
P < 0; 05), whereas birds in Group 2 (15% PSM) layed
eggs that were not significantly different than those of
the control group but that were significantly larger than
those of Groups 1 and 3. The mean egg weight values
obtained in this study were lower than the reports of
Bayram and Akıncı (2001) (12.17–12.47 g), and higher
than the reports of Aboul-Ela et al. (1992) (11.0 g). lt
seems that the egg weight significantly decreased when
PSM contents in the diets were either higher or lower
than 15%. Because egg size may be correlated with body
weight (Di Masso et al., 1998), we investigated whether
there were differences in the body weights of the animals
in the different experimental groups. Indeed, Group 2
quail hens were observed to be heavier than the others,
in agreement with the findings of Bayram and Akıncı
(1999), who reported an increase in body weight of
quails fed a diet containing 15% PSM. Whitehead et al.
(1993) and Whitehead (1995) stated that dietary fatty
acids may increase egg weight by stimulating the synthesis
of oviductal proteins. Indeed, the results observed
here may reflect the amino acid or fatty acid content of
PSM, soybean meal, and full-fat soya