The effects of increasing levels of dietary sodium bentonite on performance, carcass indices, blood chemistry and meat quality in Japanese quails

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of the inclusion of sodium bentonite (SB) in Japanese quails’ diet on performance, carcass traits, blood biochemical status, and meat quality traits. A total of 120 seven-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were randomly divided into four groups, with each group containing five replicates, six birds each. SB was mixed with the diet at four concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%). Performance indicators were determined for an experimental period of six weeks. At the end of the experiment, 2 quails from each replicate were slaughtered and carcass traits were measured. The blood serum biochemical values, antioxidant status, and meat quality indicators were determined from blood and breast meat samples. The results showed that SB supplementation significantly improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 2–7 week period, the relative weight of the proventriculus, glucose and total cholesterol (TC) and a* (redness) colour traits in meat. Moreover, the total oxidant status (TOS) in blood serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) values were decreased with SB addition to Japanese quails’ diet. Hence, dietary SB supplementation could be used to improve the performance and antioxidant status in Japanese quails.