Effect of dietary supplementation of some antioxidants on growth performance, carcass composition and breast meat characteristics in quails reared under heat stress

This research investigates the effects of adding vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin E+C, and alpha lipoic acid to feed rations for Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) exposed to heat stress. The aspects studied were growth performance, carcass composition and breast meat characteristics. Five groups of quails, containing 50 birds each (250 Japanese quails: 150 female and 100 male) were used. The 21-days-old birds were fed for a period of 21 days, and they were kept in a controlled environment with a temperature of 34˚C between 08:00 and 17:00 and a temperature of 24˚C for the remaining part of the day. The five groups under study included: a control group without any additive (BS), a group fed diets with vitamin E (BSE), with vitamin C (BSC), with vitamin E+C (BSEC) and with lipoic acid (BSLA). The supplement additions to the diets did not affect the growth performance and carcass composition of the birds. The TBA (malonaldehyde) value of the BS group was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in the other groups. L*, a*, and b* values in muscle samples, superficialis pectoralis muscle (SPM) and deep pectoralis muscle (DPM), were determined. In the samples from the SPM, the L* value of the BS group was higher than in the BSC group; the a* value of the BSE group was higher than in the BS group; and the b* value of the BSC group was higher than in the BS group (P < 0.05). In the samples from the DPM, the L* value of the BS group was higher than in the BSEC group (P < 0.05); the a* values of the BSE and BSEC groups were higher than in the BS group (P < 0.05); and the b* values of the BSC, BSEC and BSLA groups were higher than in the BS group (P < 0.01). In the microbiological analysis of meat, total aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts of the BS and BSE groups were higher than the counts in the BSC, BSEC, and BSLA groups (P < 0.01); coliform bacterial counts were higher in the BSE group than in the BSC group (P < 0.05); and lactic acid was higher in the BSE and BSEC groups than in the BSC and BSLA groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the supplemented antioxidants did not exhibit any significant effect on growth performance, but they significantly decreased lipid oxidation in the meat.  

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Effects of Vitamin C and Vitamin E on Lipid Peroxidation Status, Serum Hormone, Metabolite, and Mineral Concentrations of Japanese Quails Reared under Heat Stress (34º C)

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.72.2.91 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. 91-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Kazim Sahin ◽

Osman Kucuk ◽

Nurhan Sahin ◽

Mustafa Sari

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Management Practice ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Dietary Vitamin ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Japanese Quails ◽

Mineral Concentrations

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (a-tocopherol acetate) on lipid peroxidation status measured as MDA and serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), as well as some other serum metabolite and mineral concentrations of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34º C). One hundred-eighty 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to six treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. Using a 2 × 3 factorial design, the birds received two levels of vitamin C (100 and 200 mg/kg of diet) or three levels of vitamin E (125, 250, or 500 mg/kg of diet). Greater dietary vitamin E and vitamin C resulted in a greater serum T3, T4, and TSH (p=0.001), but lower ACTH (p=0.001) concentrations. Serum concentrations of T4 and TSH increased to a greater extent by increasing dietary vitamin C when greater vitamin E levels were fed (interaction, p=0.001). Serum glucose, urea, triglycerides, and cholesterol concentrations decreased (p=0.001), while protein and albumin concentrations increased (p =0.001) when both dietary vitamin C and vitamin E were increased. Serum activities of SGOT and SGPT were not influenced by dietary vitamin C or vitamin E (p>0.43). However, serum activity of AP increased (p=0.001) by increasing both dietary vitamin C and vitamin E. Increasing both dietary vitamin C and vitamin E caused an increase in serum concentrations of Ca, P, K (p=0.001), Fe, and Zn (p=0.01) but a decrease in serum concentrations of Na (p=0.001) and Cu (p=0.01). Interactions between vitamin C and vitamin E were detected for Ca, P, Na, and K (p =0.001). Greater dietary vitamin C and vitamin E resulted in a greater serum and liver vitamin E, C, and A (p_0.05), but lower MDA (p=0.001) concentrations. Results of the present study conclude that supplementing a combination of dietary vitamin C (200 mg) and vitamin E (250–500 mg) offers a good management practice to reduce heat stress-related decreases in performance of Japanese quails.

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