Objective:The effects of six blends of medicinal herbs on performance, carcass characteristics, blood constituents and immunological parameters of Japanese Quail were studied.
Material and Methods: A total of 180 (one hundred eighty), one-day-old unsexed quail chicks were allocated into six dietary treatments including basal diet with no supplement as control group (T1), basal diet plus 15 g/kg of herbal blends including; cinnamon and thyme powder (T2), rosemary and anise seed powder (T3), caraway and coriander powder (T4), Fenugreek and cumin seed powder (T5) and parsley and watercress powder (T6).
Results:The results showed that live body weight (BW) was significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed blends of fenugreek and cumin containing diet at 7 days of age as compared to control. Body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) improved in birds fed blends of parsley and watercress containing diet in 28, 35 and 42 days of age as compared to control. Liver percentage achieved significantly (P<0.05) the highest percentage in chicks fed blends of rosemary and anise seeds powder compared to the other treatments. While, heart percentage achieved the highest percentage in chicks fed blends of caraway and coriander powder compared to the other treatments. Carcass percentage achieved the highest value in chicks fed the control diet. No significant (P>0.05) differences due to the herbs blends supplementation on dressed percentage. Significant (P<0.05) differences due to medicinal herbs supplementation on albumin, glucose, phosphorus, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase. No significant differences on total protein, calcium, cholesterol, GOT and GPT. There were significant (P<0.05) effects of medicinal plants herbs supplementation on all immunological parameters (IgM, IgG, IgA) and Bursa of Fabricius and spleen percentages.
In conclusion, blend T6 that contained parsley and watercress powder may be a proper candidate to fulfill the demand of poultry industry in search for safe and efficient growth enhancers.
