EFFECT OF CHAMOMILE FLOWERS MEAL AS FEED ADDITIVES IN LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL DIETS ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE | ||||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||||
| Article 6, Volume 1, Issue 10, October 2010, Page 517-533 PDF (408.58 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2010.86265 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| K Abd El-Galil1; Henda A. Mahmoud1; Amal M. Hassan2; A. S. Morsy2 | ||||
| 1Animal and Poultry Nutrition Dept., Desert Research Center, El-Matariya, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| 2Animal and Poultry Physiological Dept., Desert Research Center, El-Matariya, Cairo, Egypt. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| A total number of 180 Japanese quail (120 females and 60 males) at 4 weeks of age were used in an experiment lasted 22 weeks. Experimental Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided randomly into four equal experimental groups (30 females in each group). The first group was fed a basal diet as control, while the other three groups were fed the a basal diet additives with the Chamomile flower meal (CFM), at levels of 0.25, 0.50 or 0.75 g/kg diet, respectively. The experimental diets were isocaloric (2900 kcal ME/kg), isonitrogenous (20% CP) and isofibrous. The main objective of the present work was undertaken to establish the utilization of Chamomile flower ( Matricaria recutita L) as medicinal plant feed additive in laying Japanese quail diets and its effect on productive and reproductive performance. Results obtained could be summarized as follows The final live body weight and body weight change during the whole experimental period increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing CFM levels. The highest final live body weight and body weight change were recorded by using 0.75 followed by 0.50 g/kg, while those fed control diet recorded the lowest ones. Feed intake (g/day) increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing CFM levels, however 0.75 g/kg CFM recorded the highest one, while the control diet recorded the lowest ones. The level of 0.50 g/kg CFM recorded the best (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio (g feed /g egg mass), while the control diet recorded the worst ones Age at sexual maturity and first egg weight recorded a non-significant difference among groups, while egg weight, egg number and egg mass during the whole experimental period recorded a significant difference (P<0.05) among groups. Hatchability and Fertility percentage recorded a significant difference among groups. Egg yolk and shell thickness percentage showed a non-significant increase among the experimental groups, albumen and yolk index percentage were decreased (P<0.05) by increasing CFM, while eggshell and egg shape were increased (P<0.05) by increasing CFM as compared to the control group. Digestibility coefficients of OM, CP, CF, EE, NFE and the nutritive values expressed as DCP, TDN % and ME (kcal/kg) were significantly varied (P<0.05) among the different experimental groups. . Level of 0.50 g/kg CFM group showed the best net revenue as well as the highest value of economic efficiency among experimental groups. Level of 0.5 g/kg improved (P<0.05) Sperm concentration, sperm motility, total motile sperm, live spermatozoa and semen quality factor. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) significantly decreased in level of 0.5 g/kg. Cholesterol concentration decreased (P<0.05) in the Japanese quail fed with level of 0.5 and 0.75 g/kg. Glucose, albumin, creatinine, ALT and AST concentration did not significantly as affected by using different levels of CFM. In conclusions, It could be concluded that using dietary medicinal plant such as Chamomile flower (Matricaria recutita L) meal at 0.50 g/kg of the diet could improve productive, reproductive performance and economical efficiency of laying Japanese quail. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Quail; Chamomile meal (CFM); productive performance; egg quality; digestibility; economical efficiency and some physiological function | ||||
|
Statistics Article View: 243 PDF Download: 410 |
||||
