Effects of Varying Dietary DL-Methionine Levels on Productive and Reproductive Performance, Egg Quality, and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Quail Breeders

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the effects of varying dietary DL-methionine (0, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 g/kg) levels on the productive and reproductive performance, egg quality and blood biochemical parameters of quail breeders. In total, 150 mature Japanese quails at eight weeks of age were randomly allotted to five groups of 30 for each group. Each group included five replicates, each of six quails (four females and two males). The results showed that egg number, egg weight and egg mass were higher (p < 0.05) with the addition of all DL-methionine levels than that of the control group. Quails from the control group had a lower feed intake (p < 0.001) and a worse feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those from the DL-methionine-treated groups. Supplementation of DL-methionine up to 2.5 g/kg in quail diets increased fertility and hatchability percentages. Birds fed DL-methionine at 1.5 g/kg had the best egg production indices, better FCR and the highest values of fertility and hatchability. Egg weight, yolk %, Haugh unit, egg shape index and unit surface shell weight (USSW) were increased and eggshell % was decreased in quail supplemented with DL-methionine levels compared with the control quail (p < 0.05). Dietary DL-methionine levels did not affect (p > 0.05) the hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and packed cell volume (PCV) of quails. DL-methionine levels (0.5 and 2.5 g/kg) augmented lymphocytes and basophile (p < 0.05). Low DL-methionine levels (0.5 or 1.5 g/kg) improved liver enzymes and kidney functions. Dietary DL-methionine levels (except 3.5 g/kg) declined serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and decreased lipid profile parameters (except high-density lipoprotein—HDL). Supplementation of DL-methionine at 0.5 and 1.5 g/kg increased immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) (p < 0.001) compared with the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of DL-methionine (1.5 g/kg) can enhance the reproductive performance and egg quality of quail breeders. DL-methionine use at levels of 0.5 or 1.5 g/kg improved the liver and kidney functions, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant parameters of Japanese quail.

Effects of bacterial organic selenium, selenium yeast and sodium selenite on antioxidant enzymes activity, serum biochemical parameters, and selenium concentration in Lohman brown-classic hens

“…Blood biochemical index, in particular, may provide details about the animal's nutritional conditions (Mu et al 2019) and health status (Reda et al 2020), with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as markers of liver and kidney oxidative injury (Abdel-Daim et al 2020). Lower concentrations of these biochemical indices are related to enhanced antioxidant status and, as a result, the safer condition of kidneys and liver.…”

“…Similarly, plasma creatinine, the activity of AST enzyme, and plasma total cholesterol, and plasma LDL concentrations all decreased in organic Se supplemented rabbits (Ayyat et al 2018; Abdel-Azeem et al 2019). Furthermore, when breeder quails were fed 0.5 to 2.5 g/kg DL-methionine, lipid pro le markers, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were reduced (Reda et al 2020). Broiler birds fed 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg of feed nano-Se reduces blood ALB concentrations (Ahmadi et al 2018), in uenced oxidation resistance (Chen et al 2013).…”

Effect of substitution of taurine for methionine and additional taurine supplementation on the performance and antioxidative capacity of laying hens

“…Methionine, as the first limiting amino acid in corn-soybean diet, is necessary for the maintenance of laying performance of hens ( Conde-Aguilera et al., 2016 ; Reda et al., 2020 ). Methionine is the precursor for cellular methylation and the synthesis of cysteine and the methionine-sparing effect of cystine/cysteine has been proved by previous works ( Finkelstein and Mudd, 1967 ; Finkelstein et al., 1988 ).…”

Effects of methionine and/or disaccharide injected in the amnion of geese on post-hatching pectoral muscle and small intestine development, glycogen reserves, jejunum morphology, and digestive enzymes activities

“…Digestible disaccharides ( DS ) as a suitable candidate for providing exogenous energy plays an important glucose precursor for late-term bird embryo catabolism, could alleviate the energy deficiency through stimulating glucose metabolism ( Chen et al, 2010b ). Methionine ( Met ) as the first limiting amino acid for poultry has many physiological functions, like giving the methyl group a vital methyl donor ( Reda et al, 2020 ; Elwan et al, 2021 ), ameliorating oxidative stress, and uplift the protein supply in embryo ( Elnesr et al, 2019 ). In our previous study, feeding geese embryo with DS and/or Met solution had positive effects on the development of embryo ( Dang et al, 2022 ).…”