Highlights Effects of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae meal in broiler quails diet. Affirmative TM effects on growth performance and carcass and breast yields. Positive effects of TM supplementation on gut morphology and meat quality.

The present study was to evaluate thyme and ajwain as antibiotic growth promoter substitutions on growth performance, carcass characteristics and serum biochemistry in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A feeding trial was conducted over 28 d with 4 groups of Japanese quails fed experimental diets formulated to provide no supplementation (control), or control + 55 mg zinc bacitracin/kg, 2 g thyme/kg, and 2 g ajwain/kg. At 35 d of age, 2 quails from each replicate were sacrificed and eviscerated. Liver, empty small intestine and heart were weighed and calculated as a percentage of live body weight. The carcasses were weighed and the cuts were performed to evaluate the yield of legs and breast. At 35 d of age, 2 quails per replicate were chosen and approximately 1-mL blood samples were collected through brachial vein, and concentrations of albumin, total protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) -cholesterol were determined. Final body weight were not affected by the dietary treatment whereas, it tended to increase in quails supplemented with antibiotic. Overall feed conversation ratio values were similar though it tended to improve in quails supplemented with thyme compared with other groups. Daily feed intake, internal organ weights and carcass traits were not influenced by the dietary treatments. Serum total cholesterol contents were lower (P < 0.05) in quails supplemented with ajwain compared with control and quails supplemented with antibiotic and thyme. The highest serum HDL-cholesterol was seen in the group supplemented with thyme compared with other groups. It was concluded that the addition of 2 g/kg thyme can improve serum biochemistry in quails, although its effects on performance criteria was negligible.

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This experiment aimed to examine the effect of periodical application of bioactive peptides derived from cottonseed (BPC) in comparison with using sub-therapeutic doses of lincomycin and the excessive inclusion of vitamin E on performance, immunity, total antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-d-old male broiler chicks with similar initial weight (Ross strain) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (8 chicks/pen): non-treated group (basal diet), basal diet supplemented with 2 mg/kg lincomycin, basal diet supplemented with 50 IU vitamin E, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter period, basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg in starter and grower periods and basal diet supplemented with 6 g BPC/kg throughout the whole experiment. The highest final body weight was obtained in the group supplemented with BPC in starter and grower periods. In the finisher phase, broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the starter period and in the whole trial had significantly ( P < 0.05) better feed conversion ratios (FCR). Jejunal villus height was significantly elevated in broilers supplemented with antibiotic ( P < 0.001), furthermore it tended to be greater in broilers fed BPC in the starter period. The jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly ( P < 0.01) higher in broilers fed the diet containing antibiotic in comparison to other groups. Humoral immune response against Newcastle disease vaccine tended to be elevated in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial ( P > 0.05). Broilers supplemented with BPC in starter and grower, and in the whole trial had significantly ( P < 0.05) higher antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The highest total antioxidant capacity was obtained in broilers supplemented with the excessive level of vitamin E, furthermore it tended to improve in broilers fed the diet containing BPC in the whole trial. In summary, the results of the study indicated that addition of BPC in broiler diets in the whole trial could improve FCR, immune responses and total antioxidant activity of serum, and BPC could be used in broiler diets as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics.

The present experiment was conducted to investigate effects of Tenebrio molitor (TM) as a replacement for fish meal on egg productive and qualitative traits, serum biochemical parameters, haematology and interferon-Ç gene expression in laying quails. A total of 250 laying Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica), at 74 days of age were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomised design during a five-week period. Experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet (CTL) or basal diet supplemented with 25% (7.5 g/kg; TM25), 50% (15 g/kg; TM50), 75% (22.5 g/kg; TM75) and 100% (30 g/kg; TM100) TM larvae meal in replace of fish meal. Total replacement of fish meal with TM larva meal significantly increased daily feed intake (DFI) of laying quails compared to CTL (p < .05) but MT25, MT50 and MT75 decreased DFI in comparison to CTL (p < .05). Feed conversion ratio of quails fed with insect larva meal was not different from those received CTL. Serum cholesterol concentration was lower in quails of M75 and M100 groups than those fed on the other dietary treatments (p < .05). Haematological traits and interferon-Ç gene expression of quails were not affected by dietary supplemental TM larva meal. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of TM larva meal can be used as replacement for fish meal in diet of laying quails up to 30 g/kg. Dietary supplementation of TM larva meal did not have any adverse effect on health status of laying quails. HIGHLIGHTS Dietary inclusion of TM larva meal can be used as replacement for fish meal in diet of laying quails. Dietary supplementation of TM larva meal did not have any adverse effect on health status of laying quails. Serum cholesterol concentration decreased by dietary supplementation of TM larva meal in laying quails.