Biological and biochemical characteristics of male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass quality of Japanese quails by the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves (pine leaves) and α‐tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) powder on male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. A total of 360‐day‐old male quails were purchased from the open market and kept at poultry shed for ninety‐four days. After ten days of adaptation, all quails were randomly assigned into 4 groups, control (IC); supplemented with α‐tocopherol acetate (IE) at the rate of 150 mg/L; Pinus ponderosa leaves (IP) at the rate of 150 mg/L; and 70 mg α‐tocopherol acetate and 70 mg Pinus ponderosa leaves (IEP). Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate supplementation had not significantly (p > .05) effected on final body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of quails. The high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly (p > .05) affected by IE and IP groups as compared to IC and IEP groups. Triglyceride (TG), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly (p < .05) increased in all treatment groups except for the IC group. Aspartate transaminase (AST) significantly (p > .05) decreased in treatment groups as compared to control group. Overall, the mineral levels significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups as compared to control. Cloacal gland index values, the quantity of foam production and testis weight were significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups. It was concluded that the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate improved the testis weight, foam production, serum antioxidant enzymes and mineral level especially zinc in Japanese quail considered an indicative characteristic of higher sperm production rate and improved sexual activity. Further, higher gametogenesis rate, sperm production or reproductive behaviour including different hormonal level will be analysed in future study.

Potential effect of the microbial fermented feed utilization on physicochemical traits, antioxidant enzyme and trace mineral analysis in rabbit meat

“…Nowadays, many researchers using several dietary nutritional supplements in animals feed to develop the meat quality, such as vitamin E, sodium selenite, selenium yeast, oats, essential oils of oregano, fermented wheat powder and probiotics strain, for example L. plantarum and P. acidilactici (Casamassima et al, ; Shah et al, ; Simonová, Szabóová, et al, ). Probiotics are living micro‐organisms that develop the digestive system of animals, when they are added in feed (Khan, Javed, & Muhammad, ; Simonová, Lauková, et al, ).…”

Evaluation of Phyllanthus niruri L. powder on growth performance, haematology, and intestinal morphology of broilers

“…This indicates that a dose of up to 0.05% MeP is safe to use as a natural feed additive for broilers. Another study reported that the supplementation of pine needles and vitamin E powder in feed improved the performance of female Japanese quail (Khan et al, 2019) but Pinus ponderosa leaf supplementation in Japanese quail feed did not affect performance (Shah et al, 2019). This indicates that not all plant bioactive substances can improve performance.…”