Effects of Dietary Chia Seeds or Oil on Performance, Egg Quality and Serum Constituents in Quails

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of dietary chia seeds or oil levels in laying quails on performance, external and internal egg quality traits, and serum biochemical properties. Total of 90 female Japanese quails 10 weeks old were randomly allocated to five treatment groups consisting of six subgroups, each containing of 3 quails. Quails were fed for 10 weeks with five treatment diets prepared by adding chia seeds (1 or 2%) or chia oil (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg) to the basal diet (control). Body weight change was improved by dietary addition of 2% chia seeds (P0.05). Compared to control, the supplementation of chia seeds (1 and 2%) and 0.5 g/kg of chia oil to the diet was effective in increasing the eggshell resistance (P0.05). Serum glucose and HDL levels increased with the addition of chia seeds (%1) and oil (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) to the diet (P