EFFECTS OF GINGER AND BEE PROPOLIS ON THE PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND BLOOD CONSTITUENTS OF GROWING JAPANESE QUAIL

Zeweil, Hassan; Abd El Rahman, M H; Desoky, W M; Abu Hafsa, Salma H; Abdulhamid, A B

doi:10.21608/epsj.2016.33238

EFFECTS OF GINGER AND BEE PROPOLIS ON THE PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND BLOOD CONSTITUENTS OF GROWING JAPANESE QUAIL

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ 1Dep. of Anim. and Fish Prod., Fac. of Agric. (Saba Basha), Univ. of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

² 2Dep.of Livestock Res., Arid Lands Cultivation Res. Instit., City of Scientific Res. and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab, P.O. Box 21934, Alexandria, Egypt

10.21608/epsj.2016.33238

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing
ginger and bee propolis as a growth promoter and antioxidant material on performance traits,
carcass characteristics, blood parameters and antioxidant status of growing Japanese quail. A
total of one hundred and thirty-five, 7 days old unsexed growing Japanese quails were
randomly divided into 5 groups, each 3 replication of 9 birds per replicate in a complete
randomized design. Five diets were formulated as follows: the1st diet was basal diet without
supplement and served as negative control and the 2nd diet was basal diet supplemented
with 100 mg/kg antibiotic and served as positive control, while the 3rd and 4th diets included
125 mg/kg ginger and 500 mg/kg bee propolis, respectively and the 5th diet included a
mixture of 125 mg ginger + 500 mg bee propolis/ kg diet. The results showed that dietary
supplementations did not significantly (P≤0.05) influence the final live weight and weight
gain. Significant (P≤0.05) decrease in feed intake was recorded in the group received
antibiotic and 500 mg propolis in their diet as compared to the control. Quails received 500
mg propolis in their diet had the best (P≤0.05) record of feed conversion ratio. This group
surpassed the control one by 4.2 %. The highest value of relative carcass weights was
obtained in the group received 500 mg propolis/kg diet. Numerical decrease was observed
in relative weight of abdominal fat and numerical increase was observed in lymphoid
organs in all groups fed the different supplementations. Antibody titters against avian
Newcastle disease significantly improved by different treatments at 21 days after
vaccination. Serum total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly
decreased for groups fed on different feed additives as compared to negative control group.
Significant increase in HDL concentration was recorded in the groups given ginger or
propolis contained diets as compared to the control groups. Dietary treatments significantly
increased total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity and significantly
decreased Malondialdehyde compared to the negative control. In conclusion, the results
indicated that growing Japanese quail fed diet supplemented with ginger, propolis or its
combination could effectively be added to quail ration to improve feed conversion ratio and
humeral immunity and optimize lipid profile in blood serum and enhance anti-oxidative
status.

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