Water salinity and air temperature on quail production and organ characteristics

ABSTRACT The supply of salt water in the semiarid region is a recurrent practice, as there is a severe shortage of water for use in animal consumption. Thus, most of the times the water offered to the birds can contain salts above the recommended amount. The present study aimed to evaluate the production performance and morphometry of the organs of Japanese quails as they were supplied with drinking water with different concentrations of sodium chloride, while being maintained in comfort and under thermal stress. The birds received water with increasing electrical conductivity (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1) and were kept in a climate chamber at thermoneutral air temperature (24 °C) and under thermal stress (32 °C), being distributed in a completely randomized design and 2 × 4 factorial scheme. Water electrical conductivities did not affect the performance of the birds, except for the weight of the gizzard, which showed an increasing linear effect as the electrical conductivities increased. At the stress temperature, there was reduction in feed intake, egg weight and mass, and in feed conversion per dozen eggs, but with no effect on the weights of the heart, liver and gizzard. Japanese quails in the production phase can consume water with electrical conductivity of up to 6.0 dS m-1, showing good production performance and without compromising organ morphometry.

Magnesium in the water of Japanese quails kept under comfort zone and under thermal stress

The objective was to evaluate the increasing levels of magnesium in the water supplied to laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica), kept in climatic chambers under thermoneutral temperature and thermal stress, on their performance and morphometry of their organs. The birds were distributed in a completely randomized design, 2x4 factorial arrangement, 2 temperatures (24 and 32 ºC) and 4 levels of magnesium in the water (50, 150, 250 and 350 mg L-1), with six replicates and eight birds per experimental unit. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability level. The magnesium levels in the water did not affect (P > 0.05) the production performance and morphometry of the organs, with less water consumption at the magnesium level of 150 mg L-1, and birds kept at 32 °C had a reduction in feed consumption and feed conversion, but without affecting organ morphometry. Japanese quails in the production phase can consume water with magnesium levels up to 350 mg L-1 without having their production performance and morphometry of organs affected and raised in an environment with temperatures of up to 32 °C.

Effect of Xanthohumol Added to Diet on Blood Biochemistry in Japanese Quails

In this paper, we monitored to effect of xanthohumol added to diet on blood biochemistry in Japanese quails. Forty Japanese quails breeds lines Pharaoh were included in the experiment. The quails were randomly divided into two groups: one control and one experimental group with supplementation by xanthohumol in feed. In the evaluation of biochemical parameters, we focused on total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol and enzyme activity of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) and ɤ-GT (ɤ-Glutamyltransferase). Statistical comparisons were made between group with supplementation by xanthohumol in feed and the control group. Total protein and albumin levels were significantly differed between groups (P <0.05). A significant decrease in AST activity (P <0.05) was observed in supplementation group relative to control group.

Evaluation of Sex Effects on Serum Biochemical and Genetic Parameters of Japanese Quails

The study evaluated effect of Sex on serum biochemical parameters and Correlation with body weight of Japanese quails. A total of 400 birds (200 birds per sex) were reared in a Completely Randomized Design under standard management practices for 7 weeks with feed and water given ad libitum. Sex were considered treatments. Weekly body weight (BW) was measured. The three authors have declared that, “principle of laboratory animal care” (NIH publication 85 - 23 revised 1985) were followed as well as the University law. All the experiment have been examined and approved by the University law.100 birds per sex were randomly selected and blood samples were collected for serum biochemical parameters: blood Glucose (GLU), Total Cholesterol (CHOL), Triglycerides (TG), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Total Protein (TP), Albumin (ALB)and globulin (GLB). The results indicated that sex significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all the serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quail measured in this study at week 7. All data collected were analyzed with GLM of SAS ver. 9.2 and means were separated. Females of Japanese quail had the higher least square means in the serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails than the Male counterparts. Females showed higher means in TP, ALB, GLB, TG, CHOL, AS, ALT and GLU significantly (P<0.05) higher than males with for the same parameters, respectively. However, males showed higher significant (P<0.05) difference in ALP than females measured. Correlation between BW and serum biochemical parameters for male quails ranged from -15% to 15% (low trend) while that of Female counterparts was -73% to 73% (low to high trend). In conclusion, female quails had higher values in TP, ALB, GLB, TG, CHOL, AST, ALT and GLU than the Males counterparts’ exception of ALP. Hence, female quails were considered fit for studying quails’ health status as early clinical signs will be observed for quick responds to arrest the situation that will lead to disease outbreak and a breeding program will be established for quails. Body weight of female quails is a good selection tool to predict serum biochemical parameters of quails. The correlation coefficient between body weight and serum biochemical parameters was high and significant in favor of female Japanese quails.

Damızlık Bıldırcın Rasyonlarına Portakal ve Limon Kabuğu Esansiyel Yağları ve Karışımlarının İlavesinin Performans, Yumurta Kalitesi ve Kuluçka Parametrelerine Etkisi

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of adding orange peel (PKY), lemon peel essential oils (LKY) and PKY+LKY (respectively 300, 300, 150+150 mg/kg) to laying quail diets on performance, egg internal and external quality parameters and hatchability parameters. The eight-week trial was conducted in 20 subgroups, with 4 treatment groups and 5 replications for each treatment, and a total of 120 Japanese quails at 10 weeks of age were randomly distributed, with 6 quails (4 females, 2 males) in each subgroup. Feed intake with the addition of LKY to the diet, egg production and egg mass with the addition of PKY + LKY decreased significantly compared to the control group, and the eggshell breaking resistance with the addition of LKY and PKY + LKY increased significantly compared to the control group. However, the addition of LKY, PKY and PKY+LKY to the diet did not affect hatchability and reproduction parameters. According to these results, the addition of 300 mg/kg PKY and 300 mg/kg (150+150) PKY+LKY to breeder quail diets had an effect on the increase of eggshell qualityi, although the performance was adversely affected.