Y. Molodi; M. Daneshyar
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of Rosemary (0, 100 and 200 mg per kg) and peppermint (0, 100 and 200 mg per kg) essential oils on performance, internal organs and some blood indices using360 one-day old quail. The experiment was conducted in a 3×3 factorial arrangement ...
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of Rosemary (0, 100 and 200 mg per kg) and peppermint (0, 100 and 200 mg per kg) essential oils on performance, internal organs and some blood indices using360 one-day old quail. The experiment was conducted in a 3×3 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications (10 birds per repetition). The results showed that the consumption of highest level of rosemary essential oil caused the increased feed consumption during week 2 of age (P<0.05). Peppermint essential oils affected the feed consumption during week 4 of age (P<0.05) and the quails fed with the medium peppermint essential oil (100 ppm) had the lower feed conversion ratio as compared to the other levels. Moreover, the results of the experiment showed that consumption of rosemary and peppermint essential oils alone or together had no effects on the breast, thigh, liver and spleen weights (P>0.05). The essential oils of rosemary and peppermint plants did not change the blood indices of triglyceride, protein, urea, creatinine and HDL (P>0.05). There was a trend for the effect of rosemary essential oil on length of both jejunum and ileum (P=0.09) and the 100 and 200 ppm rosemary caused the higher length of both jejunum and ileum at day 35 of age. In conclusion, the consumption of rosemary and peppermint essential oils improved the performance of quails in the early ages.
K. Azizi; M. Daneshyar; S.M. Abtahi; S.H. Goldani
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) powder on performance, carcass characteristics and immune system of Japanese quail. For this purpose, 200 one-day-old quail chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and ...
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This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) powder on performance, carcass characteristics and immune system of Japanese quail. For this purpose, 200 one-day-old quail chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates and 10 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of four levels of peppermint (0.0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75%). The consumption of 0.5 and 0.75% peppermint powder significantly reduced the severity of respiratory burst (P<0.01). No effects of experimental treatments were observed for heterophil, lymphocyte, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and monocyte counts (P>0.05). Different levels of peppermint powder caused to decreased antibody production against SRBC and humoral immune suppression (P<0.01). In addition, different levels of peppermint powder enhanced the cellular immune system through increased lymphocyte proliferation and significant increase in the thickness of the membrane between the toes in response to SRBC injection (P<0.01). The results of this experiment showed that the consumption of peppermint powder had no effect on performance of Japanese quail during different weeks and whole the experimental period (P>0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences between the treatments for carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and length and weight of different parts of the intestine (P>0.05). Thus, according to enhancement of cellular immune responses by peppermint powder, the use of peppermint powder is recommended during the viral illness (such as Newcastle, bronchitis and influenza) or intracellular parasite infection (such as coccidiosis).