SOME PRODUCTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF GROWING JAPANESE QUAILS TO SUDANESE PROPOLIS ADDITION

Abstract

: The current study was performed aiming to investigate the untraditional natural additives such as different levels of Sudanese propolis as prospective alternatives through studying their effect on productive performance, physiological parameters and oxidative status of Japanese quails. A total number of 480 unsexed Japanese quails at 7days of age were randomly distributed for four equal treatments; every treatment contains120 birds for each treatment. Four equal treatments were received four dietary treatments depending on addition of Propolis levels from 7 days to 42 days of quails age as follows: T1: Control (basal diet without Propolis addition). T2: basal diet + 250 mg Propolis /kg diet. T3: basal diet + 500 mg Propolis /kg diet. T4: basal diet + 750 mg Propolis /kg diet. Results showed that body weight at 42 days was heavier significantly (p=0.0020) with 750 and 500 mg propolis addition treatments than control and 250 mg treatments. The same trend found in body weight gain during growing period of quails, which increased significantly (p=0.0035) by 5 and 8% with 500 and 750 mg/kg diet Propolis addition than control, respectively. Moreover, feed conversion ratio was improved significantly (p=0.0239) by 3, 7.5 and 11% compared to control with the three levels of Propolis, respectively. Red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly increased with the three levels of Propolis compared to control. Total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were significantly decreased with the three levels of Propolis compared to control. While, HDL was significantly increased with the three levels of Propolis compared to control. Furthermore, IgM, lymphocytes, globulin and total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased with the three levels of Propolis compared to control. From these results we can concluded that, addition of Propolis caused significant improvements in quails’ productive performance and anti-oxidative status.