Effects of dietary supplementation of L-carnitine on performance, carcass and meat characteristics of quails

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding diets containing two levels of metabolizable energy (12.13 or 11.72 MJ ME/kg) and two different fat sources (sunflower-and fish-oil) with or without supplemental L-carnitine (0 or 50 mg/kg diet) on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics of Japanese quails. Two hundred and forty day-old male quail chicks were randomly assigned to eight treatment groups, each subdivided into three replicates of 10 chicks. The chicks were raised from hatch until 5 wks of age. Feeding the diet containing 12.13 MJ ME/kg increases body weight and body weight gain significantly, and improved the feed conversion ratio above that of the lower energy diet. Feed intakes of the birds were unaffected by treatments. The cold carcass yield of quails fed the diet containing sunflower oil was significantly higher than those receiving the diets containing fish oil. After 35 days of feeding the diet containing the standard energy level (12.13 MJ ME/kg) the thigh yield of the birds was significantly higher than that of the chicks on the lower energy diet. Dietary treatments did not affect pH values of edible meat in the quails. Feeding diets containing sunflower oil and L-carnitine significantly decreased malonaldehyde (MA) amounts in the edible meat. The crude protein content of the edible meat fraction was significantly higher when the dietary energy level was decreased from 12.13 to 11.72 MJ ME/kg diet. Decreasing dietary energy levels significantly decreased the "L" (lightness) and "b" values (less yellow) of the meat, while dietary L-carnitine supplementation resulted in a significant increase in "L" value. The total edible meat of the quails on the diets containing fish oil had a higher "a" value (more red) than the quails receiving sunflower oil in their diets. It was concluded that additional studies are required to clarify the role of dietary L-carnitine in the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, its antioxidant properties and its importance in energy metabolism in Japanese quails.

Alleviating the oxidative stress in Japanese quails fed L- carnitine and creatine monohydrate through impacts on productive performance, ileal microflora, digestibility and redox system

“…Also, discrepant outcomes from that indicated by Al-Tamimi et al (2019), that weekly BW, BWG, FI, FCR carcass yield did not change at 5 weeks in acute heat stressed broilers for 3 hours daily which fed 1.2 g CrM /kg alone or its mixture with 1 g betaine/kg although CrM mitigated hyperthermia responses and improved the survivability. Our results are in line with those stated by Sarica et al (2007), that 50 mg/kg Car added to diet containing sunflower or fish oil as fat source with 12.13 or 11.72 MJ/kg of metabolizable energy did not affect BW, BWG, FCR and relative weights of breast, thigh drumstick, heart and gizzard of quails up to 35 days. Similarly, it was observed that 150 mg/kg Car had no influence on final BW, BWG, FCR, carcass yield and percentages of breast, wing and heart at 42 day of quails (Tufan et al, 2015).…”

Effect of Feeding Alfalfa and Concentrate on Meat Quality and Bioactive Compounds in Korean Native Black Goat Loin during Storage at 4°C

“…These results agree with those of Kim and Jang (2021) , who reported higher L-carnitine levels in KNBG loin meat compared to that in crossbred black goats (1.37 μmol/g) ( Kim et al, 2019 ), which were similar to those reported in beef round meat (2.64 μmol/g) ( Kim and Jang, 2021 ). L-carnitine is endogenously synthesized in organs by using lysine and methionine as precursors ( Sarica et al, 2007 ). According to previous research, alfalfa contains 6.1%–6.6% lysine and 1.8%–1.9% methionine ( Brito et al, 2014 ; Kaldy et al, 1980 ).…”

Influence of dietary L‐carnitine and lysine–methionine levels on reproductive performance and blood metabolic constituents of breeder ducks

“…Sarica et al. ( 2007 ) also reported a significant increase in sperm viability of mature male Japanese quail breeders supplemented with 250 or 500 mg L‐carnitine/kg diet. L‐carnitine supplementation also increased semen quantity and quality in broiler breeders (Golzar et al., 2007 ) and ostriches (Adabi et al., 2008 ).…”

“…Ad libitum consumption of diets containing L-carnitine at levels of 500 mg/kg (Neuman et al, 2002) or 125 mg/kg (Zhai et al, 2007) increased sperm concentration and reduced sperm lipid peroxidation in white leghorn roosters. Sarica et al (2007) also reported a significant increase in sperm viability of mature male Japanese quail breeders supplemented with 250 or 500 mg L-carnitine/kg diet. L-carnitine supplementation also increased semen quantity and quality in broiler breeders (Golzar et al, 2007) and ostriches (Adabi et al, 2008).…”