This study was carried out to determine the effects of supplementation of ground fennel to quail rations on egg production, slaughter, intestinal parasites, and semen quality. For this purpose, 48 female and 24 male quails were used in the study. The experimental groups consisted of the control group with basal feed + 0% ground fennel, and the GF1, GF2, and GF4 groups with ground fennel-supplemented basal feed by 1%, 2%, and 4% respectively, also each group was designed in pairs. The weekly live weight values were found to be numerically higher in the groups with fennel-supplemented rations than in the control group. In addition, the live weight values of female and male quails were also numerically higher in the groups with fennel-supplemented rations. Egg weight, egg production, and feed intake of female quails were high, especially in the GF2 group. Furthermore, the feed conversion ratio was superior in the GF2 group. Regarding the slaughter and carcass parts, the fennel-supplemented groups were numerically higher than the control group. It was observed that the oviduct weight increased with the growing fennel ratio. In addition, the fennel supplementation increased the semen concentration in male quails. The increasing fennel addition enhanced the abnormal and dead spermatozoa rates and decreased semen motility. As a result of the macroscopic examination of the intestinal lumen of the quails in the control and fennel-supplemented groups, no adult helminths were detected; however, Giardia spp.-like cysts were observed. As a result, the usage of ground fennel as a feed additive by 2% had a positive effect on yield characteristics of female quails, and the use by 1% had a positive effect on male quails. Consequently, the usage of ground fennel as a feed additive would be beneficial in quail farming.

This study aimed to examine the shriveling parameters and some aerobic microbial qualities of waste watermelons in a combined solar energy drying system (CDS) and an open sun drying system (OSDS). Results showed that the CDS was better than the OSDS in terms of the temperature, relative humidity, surface temperature, time, and speed of reaching the target humidity level of the air-shriveled watermelon slices. The number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (log10 cfu/g) increased in the shriveled (P>0.05) silages compared to fresh watermelon slices in the CDS and OSDS groups and decreased in silages (P<0.05). Compared to fresh watermelon slices, yeast count (log10 cfu/g) decreased in the shriveled CDS group (P>0.05) and increased in the OSDS group (P>0.05) and was not detected in silages. No mold was determined in the fresh watermelon slices and silages in the CDS and OSDS groups. However, mold was found to be higher in the shriveled slices in the OSDS group than in the CDS group (P<0.05). Aflatoxin was not detected in the fresh, shriveled and silage watermelon slices. As a result, it was determined in this study that the CDS group was more advantageous in terms of slaking parameters compared to the OSDS group in the shriveling process of the waste watermelon slices, which had not been previously studied. It was observed that there was no significant difference between the two systems in terms of aerobic microbial quality determined during the wilting and ensiling process. HIGHLIGHTS• Withering and silage of water-rich waste watermelons.• Waste watermelon slices wilt in 444.38 and 583.13 minutes in two different systems.• Making microbially safe silage for animals by wilting water-rich waste watermelons.• Combined solar drying system is more advantageous in terms of withering parameters.