Effects of medium-chain fatty acids on performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical parameters and immune response in Japanese quail

Abstract

This study had the aim of evaluating the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) on performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters and antibody titre against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in quail. A total of 240 quail chicks were allotted to 4 treatments consisting of respectively 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg dietary MCFA. There were no significant differences in body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments at different stages of the experiment. MCFAs had no significant effect on breast, thigh, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius weight ratios. However, the relative weight of abdominal fat significantly decreased in quail receiving 0.2 and 0.4 MCFA as compared to other treatments. Concentrations of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol were decreased and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was increased in quail chicks receiving MCFA compared with control quail chicks. The concentrations of SRBC antibody were not statistically different among treatments. It is concluded that MCFA significantly decreased LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol and abdominal fat and increased HDL in quail chicks.

Effect of Dietary Medium-Chain α-Monoglycerides on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Histomorphology, Amino Acid Digestibility, and Broiler Chickens’ Blood Biochemical Parameters

“…Moreover, GML supplementation did not affect the FI and feed utilization, where feed intake is an essential feature guiding the broiler's growth rate [49]. Similar results were informed in quail chicks fed MCFAs supplemented diets by levels of 1, 2, and 4 g/kg at different experiment stages [43]. Hejdysz et al [50] showed no significant improvement of the bodyweight gains by mediumchain fatty acids supplementation in chickens.…”

“…MCFAs are usually documented as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration [40]. Dietary MCFAs have been reported to enhance the growth performance and intestinal histomorphology and decrease the invasion of the intestinal pathogen and mortality in broiler chickens [41,42] and Japanese quail [43]. Many studies have shown that the effectiveness of MCFAs in stimulating bird growth will produce a final result to improve the gastrointestinal ecology, with the ensuing intestinal environment, intestinal mucosal integrity, the digestive and immune status of the gut, and the broiler chickens health [44][45][46].…”

“…Consequently, an increase in de novo fatty acid synthesis may cause a rise in the production of triglycerides [77]. Saeidi et al [43] reported that quail chicks fed on MCFAsupplemented diet showed decreased serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and increased HDL-C. Zhao et al [69] reported an optimistic effect of GML supplementation on the lipid profile of laying hens indicated by reducing the the serum TG and TC levels and lowering the abdominal fat.…”

Effect of dietary supplementation with medium chain fatty acids on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, lipid profile and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

“…Aromabiotic is a commercial product, which contains a mixture of MCFAs that demonstrate antimicrobial, physiological and immunological properties (Isaac et al, 2013). It was reported that Aromabiotic decreased the invasion of enteric pathogens, decreased mortality and had positive effects on growth performance and intestinal histomorphology in broiler chickens (Khosravinia, 2015;Gutierrez et al, 2006) and Japanese quail (Saeidi et al, 2016). Numerous natural products, such as sources of fats containing high concentrations of n-3 fatty acids or feedstuffs, have been tested as anticoccidial dietary additives (Tan & Long, 2012).…”

Sources of conjugated linoleic acid and lauric acid inoculated into the eggs of quails and its effects on immunity

“…On the other hand, Saeidi, Shokrollahi, Karimi and Amiri-Andi (2016), evaluating the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (caproic acid < 3%, caprylic acid = 30%, cupric acid = 56%, lauric acid = 10%, other fatty acids = 0.03%) added to diets of Japanese quails at 42 days of age, with the inclusion of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4% substitution of soybean oil in the diet, did not observe differences in the weight of the liver, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius.…”