Performance, meat quality, and lipidemia of meat-type quails fed with diets containing essential oils

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of essential oil (ESOL) of Mentha piperita and Melaleuca alternifolia on meat-type quails. To examine performance, a completely randomized design was used, with four treatments and eight repetitions each, using seven birds per repetition. To assess lipidemia, a completely randomized design in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme was used, with four treatments and two collection conditions using eight repetitions and one bird per repetition. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, carcass yield, cholesterol, high-density lipoporteins, triglycerides, pH, and brightness of quail breast meat were assessed. The data were analyzed for homoscedasticity and normality, and the means were subjected to analysis of variance. Adding M. piperita and M. alternifolia ESOL to the diets of meat-type quails can improve performance, carcass yield, and meat quality characteristics, comparable to the use of performance-enhancing antibiotics. The use of zinc bacitracin, M. piperita, and M. alternifolia under different collection conditions did not increase the serum levels of low-density and very low-density lipoproteins. The variation coefficients measured after 12 hours of fasting were 86% lower than without fasting.

Soybean Oil and Selenium Yeast Supplementation in Quail's Diet: Productive Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, Enzyme Activity, and Oxidative Stability of Meat

“…After weighing on day 42, all birds were fasted for 8 h. Then, the birds were weighed individually, desensitized by electronarcosis, bled and slaughtered. The birds were weighed at the following times: desensitization; after bleeding, and eviscerated without head, feathers, and legs to determine the carcass yield [ 3 ] (CY). Then, the carcasses were manually eviscerated, washed with running a water and ice solution (1:1) and stored in a cold chamber (5 °C) onset of rigor mortis (for 24 h).…”

“…[1,2] It was shown that the oil may promote an improved conversion of the diet and consequently productive performance of the quails. [3,4] The terms fat, oil, or lipid are generically used for a large number of compounds which show insolubility in water and solubility in organic solvents. Lipids are foods sources that are most susceptible to oxidation.…”

“…Fatsoluble substances have been studied extensively and interest in the search for new natural antioxidants has increased even more in recent years. [3] Selenium yeast (SeY) can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals due to its antioxidant capacity. This mineral acts inside the cell by converting toxic compounds into non-toxic ones (hydrogen peroxide), resulting in a decrease of free radicals.…”

“…[ 1,2 ] It was shown that the oil may promote an improved conversion of the diet and consequently productive performance of the quails. [ 3,4 ]…”

“…Fat‐soluble substances have been studied extensively and interest in the search for new natural antioxidants has increased even more in recent years. [ 3 ]…”