The effect of activated silicon dioxide and betaine supplementation on quails' growth and productivity

Background and Aim: Silicon dioxide and betaine supplements are essential in the poultry diet to improve growth and laying performance. This study aimed to determine the effect of activated silicon dioxide (ASD) and betaine supplementation on quails' growth performance during the starter period and on follicular development and productive parameters at the onset of the laying period. Materials and Methods: The research used 1064 quails, aged 7 days. Four treatments were employed: A basal diet (control), a diet supplemented with 200 ppm ASD, a diet supplemented with 0.12% betaine, and a diet supplemented with a combination of 200 ppm ASD and 0.12% betaine (ASD+Betaine). Each diet group included seven replicates of 38 quails. The observed parameters were the quails' growth performance during the starter period and follicular development and egg production during the onset of the laying period. Results: The results showed that combined supplementation with ASD+Betaine improved the quails' growth performance during the starter period (p<0.05). However, these supplements, either as single feed additives or in combination, did not affect ovarian and follicular characteristics during the onset of the laying period. Still, ASD and betaine enhanced egg production and weight. The highest magnitude of change resulted from combined supplementation with ASD+Betaine (p<0.05). Conclusion: The ASD+Betaine could be productively applied to quails' diets during the starter period and at the onset of the laying period.

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Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Dry Hydrastis canadensis on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Cecal Microbiota in Laying Hens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051381 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1381

Author(s):

Tzuen-Rong J Tzeng ◽

Tzu-Yu Liu ◽

Chiao-Wei Lin ◽

Pei-En Chang ◽

Pei-Xin Liao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Egg Production ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Hydrastis Canadensis ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Cecal Microbiota ◽

Dietary Treatments

Alternative growth promoters are able to not only effectively replace the traditional use of antibiotics but also provide additional health benefits for livestock and reduce food safety concerns. This study investigated the effects of dry Hydrastis canadensis on the laying performance and fecal microbial community of laying hens. Twenty-four Lohmann (LSL, white layer strain) hens were reared from 40 to 48 weeks of age and randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (six birds/treatment). The dietary treatments comprised a basal diet with no treatment as control, a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots (R) or leaves (L), and a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of a mixture of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves (1:1, LR). No mortality was observed in the whole experimental period. The results indicated that albumen height in the LR group was significantly greater than that in the control group. The diet supplemented with Hydrastis canadensis had no significant effects on egg production rate, egg weight, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, or yolk height during the whole experimental phase. However, principal coordinate analysis, comparative heat map analysis, and cluster dendrogram analysis of cecal microbiota showed distinct clusters among the groups treated with Hydrastis canadensis and the control group. Regarding blood biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all Hydrastis canadensis-treated groups compared with those in the control group. Moreover, serum low-density lipoprotein levels were lower in hens supplemented with the leaf of Hydrastis canadensis. The abundances of the phyla Fusobacteria and Kiritimatiellaeota were increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed with 0.6% Hydrastis canadensis leaves, whereas the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes in cecum digesta decreased in response to treatment with Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves. The relative abundance of the Fusobacterium genus was higher in the LR group compared with that in the control. On the contrary, we found a different trend in the Synergistes genus. The potential influences of these microbiota on the performance of laying hens were discussed. The results demonstrate that Hydrastis canadensis can improve the egg albumen height and modulate the cecum digesta microbiota composition of laying hens.

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Effect of Betaine Diet on Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Fat Deposition in Finishing Ningxiang Pigs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11123408 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3408

Author(s):

Yaodong Wang ◽

Jiayi Chen ◽

Yingli Ji ◽

Xue Lin ◽

Yurong Zhao

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Test Group ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Fat Deposition ◽

Expression Levels ◽

Average Body ◽

Betaine Supplementation ◽

Mrna Expression Levels ◽

Average Body Weight

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of diet with betaine supplementation on the growth performance, carcass quality and fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs. A total of 24 Ningxiang pigs (43.6 ± 5.34 kg of average body weight) was randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates per treatment and 2 pigs per replicate. The treatments included a control group (basal diet) and a test group (basal diet + 0.2% betaine). The whole trial lasted 81 days. At the end of the experiment, one pig (close to the average body weight of all experimental pigs) per replicate was slaughtered to determine the carcass traits, meat quality and the mRNA expression levels of genes relate to fat deposition (one pig per replicate was randomly selected and fasted for 12 h, n = 6). Results indicated that growth performance was not changed with betaine supplementation. However, dietary with betaine supplementation decreased back fat thickness and fat percentage, and increased the lean meat percentage as well (p < 0.05). In addition, diet with betaine supplementation reduced drip loss, water loss, cooking loss, shear force and b×24 h value of meat (p < 0.05). There was no difference in total moisture, ether extract and crude protein of longissimus thoracis between the control and test group. Dietary with betaine supplementation decreased ether extract and total cholesterol (p < 0.05) in liver. Dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), while downregulated the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in subcutaneous fat of back (p < 0.05). Besides, dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) mRNA expression of longissimus thoracis in finishing Ningxiang pigs (p < 0.05). These results showed that diet supplemented with betaine could improve the slaughtering performance and meat quality, and regulate the genes expression to affect the fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs.

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PSIX-15 Effects of mixture of essential oils and organic acid supplementation on growth performance, blood profiles, leg bone length and intestinal morphology in broilers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.692 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 347-348

Author(s):

Hanjin Oh ◽

Shudong Liu ◽

Won Yun ◽

Jihwan Lee ◽

Jiseon An ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Organic Acid ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Acid Supplementation ◽

Bone Length ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Blood Profiles

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mixture of essential oils and organic acid supplementation on growth performance, blood profiles, leg bone length and intestinal morphology in ROSS broilers. A total of 40 Ross 308 broiler (1140 ±80g) were randomly allocated to 2 groups, basal diet (CON), basal diet+0.05% Avi-protect® (AVI), with 20 replicates every group, and 1 chicken per replicate per cage. The BW (P < 0.05) and weight gain (P < 0.05) of broilers were increased in the AVI group compared with the CON group. The content of triglyceride (P < 0.05) and LDL (P < 0.05) significantly decreased in the AVI group compared with the CON group. There was no significant difference on leg bone length between the AVI and the CON group (P > 0.05). the villi height (P < 0.05) and goblet cell count (P < 0.05) significantly increased in the AVI group compared with the CON group. In conclusion, the Avi-protect® as feed additives improved the growth performance and lipid metabolism and promoted the development of intestinal morphology in broilers.

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Growth performance and gut health of Escherichia coli-challenged weaned pigs fed diets supplemented with a Bacillus subtilis direct-fed microbial

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Sangwoo Park ◽

Jung Wook Lee ◽

Kevin Jerez Bogota ◽

David Francis ◽

Jolie Caroline González-Vega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Bacillus Subtilis ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Growth Promoter ◽

Gut Health ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

E Coli

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) product (Bacillus subtilis strain DSM 32540) in weaned pigs challenged with K88 strain of Escherichia coli on growth performance and indicators of gut health. A total of 21 weaned pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 8.19 kg] were housed individually in pens and fed three diets (seven replicates per diet) for 21 d in a completely randomized design. The three diets were a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet without feed additives, a basal diet with 0.25% antibiotics (neo-Oxy 10-10; neomycin + oxytetracycline), or a basal diet with 0.05% DFM. All pigs were orally challenged with a subclinical dose (6.7 × 108 CFU/mL) of K88 strain of E. coli on day 3 of the study (3 d after weaning). Feed intake and BW data were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Fecal scores were recorded daily. On day 21, pigs were sacrificed to determine various indicators of gut health. Supplementation of the basal diet with antibiotics or DFM did not affect the overall (days 0–21) growth performance of pigs. However, antibiotics or DFM supplementation increased (P = 0.010) gain:feed (G:F) of pigs during the post-E. coli challenge period (days 3–21) by 23% and 24%, respectively. The G:F for the DFM-supplemented diet did not differ from that for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. The frequency of diarrhea for pigs fed a diet with antibiotics or DFM tended to be lower (P = 0.071) than that of pigs fed the basal diet. The jejunal villous height (VH) and the VH to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) were increased (P < 0.001) by 33% and 35%, respectively, due to the inclusion of antibiotics in the basal diet and by 43% and 41%, respectively due to the inclusion of DFM in the basal diet. The VH and VH:CD for the DFM-supplemented diet were greater (P < 0.05) than those for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. Ileal VH was increased (P < 0.05) by 46% due to the inclusion of DFM in the basal diet. The empty weight of small intestine, cecum, or colon relative to live BW was unaffected by dietary antibiotics or DFM supplementation. In conclusion, the addition of DFM to the basal diet improved the feed efficiency of E. coli-challenged weaned pigs to a value similar to that of the antibiotics-supplemented diet and increased jejunal VH and VH:CD ratio to values greater than those for the antibiotics-supplemented diet. Thus, under E. coli challenge, the test DFM product may replace the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter in diets for weaned pigs to improve feed efficiency and gut integrity.

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Laying performance and eggshell quality in laying hens fed diets supplemented with prebiotics and organic acids

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/207/2009-cjas ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (No. 7) ◽

pp. 294-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

S. Świątkiewicz ◽

J. Koreleski ◽

A. Arczewska

Keyword(s):

Organic Acids ◽

Egg Production ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Eggshell Quality ◽

Laying Performance ◽

Calcium And Phosphorus

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of organic acids and the prebiotic fructans on egg production and eggshell quality when added to the layer diet with different levels of calcium and phosphorus. The experiment was carried out on 168 Bovans Brown hens, allocated to 14 groups of 12 replications. Each hen (replication) was kept in an individual cage 40 cm × 40 cm in size. A 2 × 7 factorial arrangement, with two dietary levels of calcium and phosphorus (normal – 3.70% Ca, 0.65% P, and reduced – 3.25% Ca, 0.60% P) and with diets supplemented by selected additives (none, 0.75% inulin, 0.75% oligofructose, 0.50% volatile fatty acids (VFA), 0.25% medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), 0.30% VFA + 0.20% MCFA, 0.75% inulin + 0.50% VFA) was used. The experiment was carried out over 34 weeks, from the age of 26 to 70 weeks. There were no statistically confirmed effects of the factors studied in this experiment on egg performance, i.e. laying rate, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion. Reducing the dietary levels of Ca and P significantly decreased eggshell percent, thickness, density and breaking strength. The additives used had a considerable effect on eggshell quality at 46, 58 and 70 weeks of age, and these positive effects were most pronounced in the case of inulin and MCFA. There was no significant interaction between Ca and P dietary levels and the additives used. It was thus concluded that selected feed additives which lower the pH of the diet and intestinal content can beneficially influence eggshell quality in older high-producing laying hens.  

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Sodium Humate And Glutamine Combined Supplementation Alleviate Diarrhea of Weaned Calves Via Alter Intestinal Microbiota And Metabolites

10.21203/rs.3.rs-593416/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dong Wang ◽

Yuanyi Du ◽

Haotian Jia ◽

Siqi Huang ◽

Lei Lei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Control Group ◽

Diarrhea Incidence ◽

Combined Supplementation ◽

Similar Body ◽

Fecal Score

Abstract Background: Weaning is one of the most stressful periods that cause gastrointestinal tract dysfunction and diarrhea in calves. HNa and Gln were reported to exert beneficial effects on promoting growth performance, decreasing diarrhea incidence, and modulating intestinal microbiota in animals. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of HNa and Gln combined supplementation on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, serum parameters, intestinal microbiome, and metabolites of weaned calves.Results: In Exp. 1, 40 calves at 51±3 days of age with similar body weight (66.82±4.31 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments fed with a basal diet (NC group), and a basal diet supplemented with 100 mL of 1%, 3%, or 5% HNa+1% Gln, twice daily, respectively. In a 21-day trial, calves on the 5% HNa+1% Gln group had higher ADG and lower fecal score and diarrhea incidence than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 calves at 51±3 days of age with similar body weight (69.37±6.28 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments fed with a basal diet (NC group) and a basal diet supplemented with 100 mL of 5% HNa+1% Gln, twice daily (H+G group, the dose was obtained from Exp. 1). In a 21-day trial, calves supplemented with HNa and Gln had higher final BW and ADG, serum IgG concentration and GSH-Px and T-AOC activities, but lower fecal score, diarrhea incidence, as well as serum DAO, D-lac, TNF-α, and MDA concentrations compared to NC group (P < 0.05). Analysis of intestinal microbiota indicated that supplemented with HNa and Gln significantly increased the abundance of phyla Firmicutes and genus of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Olsenella, Ruminiclostridium 9, Howardella, and uncultured organism, whereas the abundance of phyla Bacteroidetes, genus of Helicobacter and Lachnoclostridium were decreased as compared with NC group. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that supplemented with HNa and Gln altered 18 metabolites and enriched 6 KEGG pathways (primary fatty acid biosynthesis) compared to the NC group. Conclusions: This study showed that combined supplemented with HNa and Gln could decrease diarrhea of weaned calves, which may be associated with improved intestinal microbial ecology and altered metabolism profile.

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Effect of dietary exogenous phytase on laying performance of chicken at older ages

Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.3329/bjas.v43i1.19385 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 52-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

NJ Lucky ◽

MAR Howlider ◽

MA Alam ◽

MF Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Laying Performance

A total of 48 Shaver-579 chicken layers aged between 85 to 94 weeks were reared in individual cages and given a basal diet amounting to 115g feed/bird/day. The basal diet fortified with 0.05, 0.10 or 0.15% Rena-Phytase-400 constituted of 3 experimental diets to see the effects of exogenous phytase on egg production and egg quality. Results indicated that increasing level of exogenous phytase in diet almost linearly (p<0.05) increased egg production and feed conversion but did not affect egg quality. Providing phytase in the diet at 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15% increased egg production by 11.86, 22.2 and 24.58%, respectively. It was shown that highest egg production was found at 0.15% phytase levels in diet. It can be concluded that egg production of aged hen could be increased by adding said amount of exogenous phytase in the diet.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v43i1.19385 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 43 (1): 52-55

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Effects of Dietary Betaine on Growth Performance, Digestive Function, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Indigenous Yellow-Feathered Broilers under Long-Term Heat Stress

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9080506 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 506 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Liu ◽

Yuan ◽

Sun ◽

Balasubramanian ◽

Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Nitrogen Retention ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Control Group ◽

Trypsin Activity ◽

Villus Height ◽

Betaine Supplementation

Heat stress has a profound effect on poultry health and productivity. The present study evaluated whether feeding betaine could ameliorate long-term heat stress-induced impairment of productive performance in indigenous yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 five-week-old male broilers were randomly allocated to five treatments with six replicates of eight broilers each. The five treatments included a thermoneutral zone control group (TN, fed basal diet), a heat stress control group (HS, fed basal diet), and an HS control group supplemented 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg betaine, respectively. The TN group was raised at 26 ± 1 °C during the whole study, HS groups exposed to 32 ± 1 °C for 8 h/day from 9:00 am to 17:00 pm. The results showed that heat stress decreased the body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake of broilers during 1–5, 6–10, and 1–10 weeks (p < 0.05). Dietary betaine tended to improve the BWG and feed intake of broilers under 5 weeks of heat stress (linear, p < 0.10), and betaine supplementation linearly increased the BWG and feed intake during 6–10 and 1–10 weeks (p < 0.05). Additionally, nitrogen retention was reduced by 5 weeks and 10 weeks of heat stress (p < 0.05), whereas dietary betaine could improve nitrogen retention in heat stressed broilers after both 5 and 10 weeks of heat stress (linear, p < 0.05). Moreover, this study observed that the trypsin activity of jejunum was decreased by 5 weeks of heat stress (p < 0.05), whereas betaine supplementation had quadratic effects on trypsin activity of jejunum in heat stressed broilers (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 10 weeks of heat stress induced a reduction of villus height of the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05), and decreased the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the jejunum (p < 0.05). Supplementation with betaine ameliorated the adverse effects of heat stress on these parameters (p < 0.05). Compared with the TN group, 10 weeks of heat stress reduced carcass and breast yield (p < 0.05) and betaine supplementation improved carcass and breast yield of heat stressed broilers (linear, p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of betaine could reduce the detrimental effects of long-term heat stress on growth performance, digestive function, and carcass traits in indigenous yellow-feathered broilers.

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Physiological Panel of Some Feed Additives for Turkey Toms

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n12p335 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 335

Author(s):

Sohair Y. Saleh ◽

N. S. El-Toukhy ◽

H. I. Abass ◽

S. I. El-Samannoudy ◽

M. A. Tony ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Tolerance Test ◽

Diet Group ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Antioxidant Parameters ◽

Group B

A tolerance test was conducted with total 48 male turkeys (strain, Big 6, of three months old) over a period of 70 days, to find the effect of basil and thyme (medicinal plants) and some enzymes (kemzyme and zymogen) as feed additives on turkey toms’ performances. Forty-eight male turkeys (3 months old) were randomly divided into eight groups (6 toms/each). The control group (C) was fed a basal diet without feed supplementation. Group (B) was supplemented with basil (3 g basil/kg diet) group (T) was fed thyme (2 g thyme/kg diet), group (TB) was fed a mixture of basil and thyme (3 g basil + 2 g thyme kg diet), group (Z) was fed zymogen (1 ml/4 liter water); and group (K) was supplemented with kemzyme (0.5 g/kg diet), group (BTK) was fed a mixture of basil, thyme and kemzyme, the last group was fed with diet supplemented with basil, thyme and zymogen. Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio was measured at the end of 10th week of experiment. Blood samples were taken to measure some biochemical parameters, at the same time some tissues for morphological and molecular studies were prepared. Toms fed with either basil, thyme or kemzyme (BT) had significantly (p < 0.05) heaviest body gain than the control, (Z) or (BTZ). Significant increase occurred of the dressing percent (DP%) in group (B) and (BT) compared to the groups (T, Z, BTK and BTZ).Supplementation with (K) significantly decreases the serum total lipids than the (C) group and all supplemented groups at P < 0.05. Serum cholesterol levels of the groups (T), (BT) and (Z) recorded a significant increase than those of groups (C), (K), (BTK) and (BTZ). Meanwhile; triglyceride levels revealed significant decrease in control group at (p < 0.05) than all other groups. All experimental groups recorded no differences in both serum protein and albumin. Although there were an increased levels of serum AST of groups (T) and (Z) compared to control and other groups, meanwhile; (T) and (Z) groups revealed the lowest level of serum ALT.Concerning the antioxidant parameters, results reviewed that (T), (BT), (BTK) and (BTZ) had a higher level of MDA activity than the (B), (K) and (Z) supplemented groups illustrate no difference versus the serum (MDA) activity of the (C) group. Serum SOD activity revealed no differences within all groups. Serum TAC recorded significant increase in all supplemented groups compared to their level in control group.Studies of intestinal integrity; morphometry studies indicated that the villous height increased in groups (T), (Z) and (BTK) with a higher villous to crypt ratio and goblet cell numbers of group supplemented with (BTK). Moreover, the villous width revealed a significant increase in the (C) and (Z) groups. The measurement of total DNA of duodenal tissues which reflect the cell mitosis was higher in (T), (Z) and (BTK), (BTZ) at P < 0.05; the recorded results of DNA/protein of the same segment of the duodenal tissues revealed higher ratio (higher ribosomal activity) of (T), (Z), and (BTK) groups. Cell size of the duodenal tissues as indicated by (protein/DNA) was increased by (K) and decrease by (T) and (Z) supplementation at P < 0.05.

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Impact of Ginger Root Powder Dietary Supplement on Productive Performance, Egg Quality, Antioxidant Status and Blood Parameters in Laying Japanese Quails

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062995 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2995

Author(s):

Zabihollah Nemati ◽

Zahra Moradi ◽

Kazem Alirezalu ◽

Maghsoud Besharati ◽

António Raposo

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Egg Mass ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Japanese Quails ◽

The Impact

Medicinal plants with antibacterial effects have been used by humans for centuries. In the recent decade, due to the development of antibiotic resistant strains, many studies have focused on the use of natural compounds as feed additives in livestock. Ginger, among all, have repetitively shown numerous biological activities, antibacterial, and antibiotic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ginger root powder (GP) on the performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of Japanese quail. A total of 240 10-weeks old female quails were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replicates, and 15 birds per replicate. Dietary treatment were basal diet (control) and basal diet containing 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg of ginger root powder. Growth performance and exterior and interior quality of egg were measured biweekly over eight-week period. At the end of experiment blood parameters were evaluated. The results showed that diet supplementation with different levels of GP had no significant effect on egg production, egg mass weight, and egg weight (p > 0.05). However, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly lower in the treatment group than the control in the whole period (p < 0.05). Egg Quality traits (shape index, albumen index, the percentage of albumen, yolk and shell, yolk pH, and shell thickness and strength) were not affected by the supplements in the whole trial period. Addition of GP significantly increased the albumen height, Haugh unit, and albumen pH in comparison with the control treatment (p < 0.05). GP reduced blood triglyceride level yet was ineffective on blood total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with GP, could improve productive performance and the egg quality of Japanese quails. Nonetheless a comprehensive study needs to be performed in order to evaluate the impact of quail dietary ginger supplementation on productive performance and egg quality and their stability during storage time for commercial use.

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