Effect of some feed additives on performance of growing Japanese quail

Abstract EN

A total number of 400 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks at hatch.

The quail chicks were housed in cages at hatch up to 42 days of age.

The experiment aimed to study comparative effect of some feed additives as growth promoters (medicinal plants feed additives) such as Black seeds cumin (Nigella sativa), Marjoram leaves meal (Oregano majoring) or Enzyme preparation (Optizyme) on performance of growing Japanese quail.

Quail chicks were divided randomly into 4 equal experimental groups of 100 chicks in four replicates (25 chicks replicate).

The first group was fed the basal diet as a control, while three dietary groups were obtained by adding the tested growth promoters to the control diet.

Each one of growth promoters was added to the control diet.

Either as Black cumin seed or Marjoram leaves meal and enzyme preparation (Optizyme) were added to the control diet at an inclusion rate of 0.5, 1.0 or 0.5 g/kg, respectively.

The experimental diets were caloric Metabolizable Energy (ME) (2900 kcal / kg), is nitrogenous (24 % Crude Protein) (CP) and is fibrous.

Results obtained could be summarized as follows; Live body weight and body weight gain of quail chicks were significantly (P<0.05) increased with dietary feed additives.

The highest live body weight and body weight gain were recorded by using Black seeds (Nigella sativa) cumin and followed by Marjoram leaves (Oregano majoring) meal as feed additives (medicinal plants), while those fed the control diet recorded the lowest values.

Black seeds cumin recorded the best values (P < 0.05) of feed conversion ratio (g feed / g gain), while the control diet recorded the worst feed conversion ratio.

Mortality rate recorded a non-significant difference between groups.

Black seeds cumin recorded the lowest values, while the control group recorded the highest ones.

Dressing percentage showed significant (P < 0.05) increase with the feed additives.

Black seeds cumin recorded the highest values, while edible giblets ) liver, heart and gizzard) percentage were insignificantly increased affected by feed additives Digestibility coefficients of Organic Matter (OM), Crude Protein (CP), Crude Fiber (CF), Ether Extract (EE), Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) and the nutritive values expressed as Digestible Crude Protein (DCP), Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) % and ME (kcal / kg) were significantly varied (P < 0.05)) among the different experimental groups.

Black seeds cumin group showed the best net return as well as the highest value of economic efficiency among experimental groups.

From the nutritional and economic efficiency points of view, it could be concluded that, using dietary medicinal plants such as Black seeds cumin (Nigella sativa) at 1.0 g / k of the diet could improve growth performance and economic efficiency of growing Japanese quail.

Feeding quail either black seeds cumin, Marjoram leaves meal or an enzyme preparation resulted in 10.22, 5.23 and 3.27 % higher in live body weight than that of the control group, respectively It is notice that feed intake significantly (P < 0.05) increased among groups, compared to the control diet..