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Light colors are important environmental factors affecting growth and reproductive performance of Japanese Quails. In the current study, a total number of 1060 of Japanese quail chicks were used to assess the effect of white, red, and green light color on body weight, age of sexual maturity, laying parameters as well as responses of reproductive organs. Results revealed that Japanese quails reared under red color light had higher (P<0.05) body weight at five weeks of age, relative growth rate (RGR), the first 42 days of egg production, relative ovaries and testicle weights, sperm motility and fertility and hatchability percentages (243.28 g, 184.50 %, 79.76 %, 4.33 %, 4.05 %, 90.50 %, 83.47 % and 83.47 %; respectively) than those raised under green and white light colors. Also, quails subjected to red color light during growth reached sexual maturity earlier (39.34 d) than birds subjected to white and green light colors (44.87 and 48.45 d). We conclude that using red light color during the period of growth and laying in Japanese quails improves growth and reproduction performances.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Glycyrrhiza glabra effect on growth performance, blood parameters, antioxidant and lysosomal activity, histology and immunohistochemistry of liver and intestine, and the gene expression profile of broiler chickens. A total of 180 Cobb500 broiler chicks (one-week-old) were used in this study. Chicks were distributed randomly into three treatment groups; the first group received drinking water without any supplementation (control group). In contrast, birds in groups 2 and 3 received licorice supplementation in drinking water with 0.4 and 0.8 g licorice/liter, respectively. Results revealed that licorice at a 0.4 g/L of water level improved body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and FCR. Licorice also exhibits a broad range of biological activities such as hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant, and antioxidant effects. The morphometric analysis of different parameters of the intestine revealed a significant increase in the intestinal villi length, width, and villi length/crypt depth in the group supplemented with licorice 0.4 gm/L compared to other groups. The number of CD3 positive in both duodenum and ileum was increased in the licorice 0.4 gm/L group compared to other groups. The expression of growth-related genes was significantly increased with licorice supplementation and modulation of the lipid metabolism genes in the liver and upregulated to the mRNA expression of both superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and Catalase (CAT). Our results revealed that licorice supplementation increased the growth performance of broiler chickens and impacted the birds’ antioxidant activity through modulation of the growth-related genes, lipid metabolic markers, and antioxidant-related pathways.

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This study was conducted to determine effect of egg weight on hatching results, chick performance and tonic immobility duration in Japanese Quails. Eggs were weighed individually and divided by weight into four groups: group 1 = 11.0 -11.9 g, group 2 = 12.0 -12.9 g, group 3 = 13.0 -13.9 g and group 4 = 14.0 -14.9 g. Egg weight loss during incubation and hatching parameters were recorded. Additionally, hatching weight and body weight were measured until 5 weeks and tonic immobility (TI) test was performed at the end of the experiment. Results revealed that egg weight loss during incubation decreased as egg weight increased. Group 2 was determined as the best suitable egg weight group in terms of fertility and group 2 and 3 in terms of hatchability of incubated eggs and hatchability of fertile eggs. Body weight increased as the egg weight increased and the heaviest chicks were hatched from heaviest egg group. Significant differences in TI duration between birds were noticed, as higher body weight birds had longer TI duration than birds with lower body weight. Thus, birds of high body weight were more fearful than birds of low body weight. It was concluded that the medium to heavy weight eggs are better eggs for hatching results and chick weight. Therefore, we recommend the selection of medium and heavy weight eggs for hatching implementations in Japanese quail.

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