Abstract
The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of six different levels (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) of phytogenic feed additive containing a mixture essential oils from thyme, black cumin, fennel, anise and rosemary on performance, eggshell quality, reproductive traits, and mineral excretion in quail breeders. In this trial, a total of 60 male and 120 female quails, 91 days old, were randomly distributed in six experimental groups. During the 60-day experiment period, birds were fed with six treatment diets. Performances, eggshell qualities, hatchability, and mineral excretion data were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Results showed that the different dietary levels of essential oil mixture had no significant effect on performance parameters, damaged eggs, eggshell weight, fertility, hatchability of fertile eggs, hatchability of set eggs, and lead and boron excretion. On the other hand, 50 mg/kg supplementation of essential oil mixture (EOM) significantly improved egg-breaking strength and eggshell thickness, and ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and cadmium excretion was significantly depressed in quail breeders supplemented with the two higher doses (400 or 600 mg/kg) of EOM. These results concluded that supplementing diets with EOM improved egg-breaking strength and decreased excretion of minerals in breeder quails.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali MN, Hassan MS, Abd El-Ghany FA (2007) Effect of strain, type of natural antioxidant and sulphate ion on productive, physiological and hatching performance of native laying hens. Inter J Poult Sci 6:539–554
Amad AA, Manner K, Wendler KR, Neumann K, Zentek J (2011) Effects of a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 90:2811–2816
Aygun A, Sert D, Copur G (2012) Effects of propolis on eggshell microbial activity, hatchability, and chick performance in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs. Poult Sci 91:1018–1025
Bolukbasi SC, Erhan MK, Kaynar O (2008) The effect of feeding thyme, sage and rosemary on laying hen performance, cholesterol and some proteins ratio of egg yolk and Escherichia coli count in feces. Arch Geflugelkd 72:231–237
Botsoglou NA, Yannakopoulos AL, Fletouris DJ, Tserveni-Goussi AS, Fortomaris PD (1997) Effect of dietary thyme on the oxidative stability of egg yolk. J Agric Food Chem 45:3711–3716
Botsoglou NA, Florou-Paneri P, Botsoglou E, Dotas V, Giannenas I, Koidis A, Mitrakos P (2005) The effect of feeding rosemary, oregano, saffron and α-tocopheryl acetate on performance and oxidative stability of eggs. S Afr J Anim Sci 35:143–151
Bozkurt M, Alcicek A, Cabuk M, Kucukyilmaz K, Catli AU (2009) Effect of an herbal essential oil mixture on growth, laying traits, and egg hatching characteristics of broiler breeders. Poult Sci 88:2368–2374
Bozkurt M, Tokusoglu O, Kucukyilmaz K, Aksit H, Cabuk M, Catlı AU, Seyrek K, Cinar M (2012a) Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharide and herbal essential oil blend supplementation on performance and oxidative stability of eggs and liver in laying hens. Ital J Anim Sci 11:223–229
Bozkurt M, Kucukyilmaz K, Pamukcu M, Cabuk M, Alcicek A, Catlı AU (2012b) Long-term effects of dietary supplementation with an essential oil mixture on the growth and laying performance of two layer strains. Ital J Anim Sci 11:23–28
Cabuk M, Bozkurt M, Alcicek A, Catli AU, Baser KHC (2006) Effect of a dietary essential oil mixture on performance of laying hens in the summer season. S Afr J Anim Sci 36:215–221
Cao PH, Li FD, Li FY, Ru YJ, Peron A, Schulze H, Bento H (2010) Effect of essential oils and feed enzymes on performance and nutrient utilization in broilers fed a corn/soy-based diet. Inter J Poult Sci 9:749–755
Cosentino S, Tuberoso CIG, Pisano B, Satta M, Mascia V, Arzedi E, Palmas F (1999) In vitro antimicrobial activity and composition of Sardinian Thymus essential oils. Lett App Microbiol 29:130–135
Cross DE, McDevitt R, Hillman K, Acamovic T (2007) The effects of herbs and their associated essential oils on performance, dietary digestibility and gut microflora in chickens from 7 to 28 days of age. Br Poult Sci 48:496–506
Denli M, Okan F, Uluocak AN (2004) Effect of dietary supplementation of herb essential oils on the growth performance, carcass and intestinal characteristics of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). S Afr J Anim Sci 34:174–179
Duncan DB (1955) Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1–42
Hernandez F, Madrid J, Garcia V, Orengo J, Megias MD (2004) Influence of two plant extracts on broilers performance, digestibility, and digestive organ size. Poult Sci 83:169–174
Jamroz D, Orda J, Kamel C, Wiliczkiewicz A, Wertelecki T, Skorupinska J (2003) The influence of phytogenic extracts on performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and gut microbial status in broiler chickens. J Anim Feed Sci 12:583–596
Jang IS, Ko YH, Kang SY, Lee CY (2007) Effect of commercial essential oils on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microflora population in broiler chickens. Anim Feed Sci Technol 134:304–315
Kaya A, Kaya H, Macit M, Celebi S, Esenbuga N, Yoruk MA, Karaoglu M (2013) Effects of dietary inclusion of plant extract mixture and copper into layer diets on egg yield and quality, yolk cholesterol and fatty acid composition. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg 19:673–679
Krause EL, Ternes W (1999) Bioavailability of the antioxidative thyme compounds thymol and D-cymene-2,3-diol in eggs. Eur Food Res Technol 209:140–144
Maenner K, Vahjen W, Simon O (2011) Studies on the effects of essential-oil-based feed additives on performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, and selected bacterial groups in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets. J Anim Sci 89:2106–2112
Minitab (2000) Minitab reference manual (Release 13.0). Minitab Inc. State Coll, PA
Mountzouris KC, Paraskevas V, Tsirtsikos P, Palamidi I, Steiner T, Schatzmayr G, Fegeros K (2011) Assessment of a phytogenic feed additive effect on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility and caecal microflora composition. Anim Feed Sci Tech 168:223–231
NRC (1994) Nutrient requirement of poultry, 9 rev.th edn. National Academy, Washington DC
Taranu I, Marin DE, Untea A, Janczyk P, Motiu M, Criste RD (2012) Effect of dietary natural supplements on immune response and mineral bioavailability in piglets after weaning. Czech J Anim Sci 57:332–343
Vali N, Shahin H, Vatankhah M (2013) Determination of the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume and Thymus vulgaris on performance and egg quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Res Opin Anim Vet Sci 3:280–284
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Dr. Ismail Akyol (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey) for his assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olgun, O., Yıldız, A.Ö. Effect of dietary supplementation of essential oils mixture on performance, eggshell quality, hatchability, and mineral excretion in quail breeders. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 13434–13439 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3285-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3285-x