الفهرس 
REVIEW OF LITERATUREOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Marigold flower powder (MFP) and its extract (MFEx) as
feed additives on the performance, blood parameters, antioxidant capacity, immunological
parameters, microbial content, digestive enzymes, nutrient digestibility and egg
quality of Japanese quail (growing and laying period). At growing period, 350 birds
randomly distributed into seven groups, with five replicates of 10 birds each, but at
laying period, 504 Japanese quail laying birds (168 males and 336 females), at 9 weeks’ age, hens were randomly
distributed to seven groups, each group was of 6 replicated of 12 quails (4 males, 8 females). All treatments were:
control group, that free from additives, the second, third, and fourth groups were
fed on a control diet within 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% MFP, respectively. While, fifth,
sixth, and seventh groups fed on a control diet within 150, 200, and 250 ppm
MFEx, respectively.
The results summarized as follows:
1. Growing period: -
Results demonstrated that dietary MFP and MFEx levels significantly
improved live body weight, body weight gain with lower feed intake, and the
best-feed conversion ratio especially with 200 and 250 ppm MFEx and 1.2%
MFP. Both MFP and MFEx supplementation reduced triglyceride, low-density
lipoproteins, and serum cholesterol. Also, MFP and MFEx supplementation
increased glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-PX), total antioxidants capacity
(T-AOC), and decreased thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as
compared with the control group. Feeding a diet containing MFP and MFEx
significantly reduced the populations intestinal Salmonella and E. coli and
augmented the intestinal helpful Lactobacilli bacteria. Diets of MFP and MFEx
significantly improved immune responses except for lymphocytes and was
associated with increased lipase, trypsin enzymes, and digestible protein percent
compared to the control. In conclusion, the addition of MFEx and MFP at
200ppm followed by 250ppm and 1.2% MFP, respectively to the basal diet has
improved product performance, blood parameters, antioxidant capacity,
immunological parameters, microbial content, digestive enzymes, and nutrients
digestion in growing Japanese quail.
2. laying period: -
Groups fed with MFP and MFEx levels especially 1.2% and 200 or 250
ppm MFEx have the highest egg number, egg production percentage, egg
weight, and egg mass with lowest (best) feed conversion without any significant
effect on feed intake. Egg yolk color improved in quails treated by MFP and
MFEx. While, decreased egg yolk cholesterol with improving serum
biochemical (total cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL), kidney and liver functions,
antioxidant parameters, immune response and some intestinal bacterial count
(Lactobacillus). Digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase and trypsin) improved by
treatments with MFP and MFEx epically at 250 ppm MFEx. Quails fed on diets
containing 0.6 % MFP and 250 ppm MFEx have the highest nutrient
digestibility percentage. According to the results of this experiment, MFEx
addition (200 and 250 ppm) to laying quail diets improved digestive enzymes,
digestion of nutrients, productive performance, serum biochemical, antioxidant
capacity, immunological parameters, and microbial content.
Keywords: Japanese quail, growing, laying period, marigold flower, performance, serum biochemistry,
immune responses, antioxidant parameters and egg quality.