پژوهشهای تولیدات دامی (Oct 2024)
The Effect of Different Black Seed Levels on Production Parameters and Some Reproductive and Blood Parameters in Japanese Quail
Abstract
Extended Abstract Background: Black seeds can affect the productive and physiological performance of birds and laboratory animals. This research aimed to study the effect of black seed levels on production and reproduction parameters in Japanese quail. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted on 400 pieces of adult 12-week-old quails in 20 experimental units with four treatments and five replications for 6 weeks. Experimental treatments were control (without black seeds, feeding with a basic diet), a basic diet with 1% of black seeds, the basic diet with 2% of black seeds, and the basic diet with 3% of black seeds. At the end of the experimental period, blood was taken from one randomly selected male bird from each replicate for testosterone measurement, and they were killed to examine reproductive components. The produced quail eggs of each experimental replication were collected daily and their number was recorded and weighed separately every week. At the end of the test period, 30 quail eggs from each replication were collected for 4 days and placed in the egg combs. The selected quail eggs were arranged in the setter combs and incubated in an automatic incubator at 37.7 °C and 55% humidity. For 15 days of the setter stage, the temperature was 37.2°C and 70% humidity for 3 days of the hatcher stage. The number of chickens in each replication and their weight and losses were recorded after hatching. Reproductive parameters, including fertility rate, total hatch, and the hatch of fertile eggs, were examined at the end of the incubation period. Results: The reproductive components and male Japanese quail testosterone were not affected by different levels of black seed (p < 0.05). Mansour et al. (2003) showed that treated groups (olive oil, black seed oil, and pomegranate extract) slightly affected testosterone, LH, FSH, and Inhibin-B compared to the control group. Considering that black seed has many properties, it did not show an effect on testosterone levels in the treatments compared to the control treatment; however, it did not have a harmful effect on the hormone levels. Egg production was affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05). Egg weight parameters were not affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05). The highest percentage of egg production was recorded in the treatments with 2 and 3% of black seeds, and the lowest percentage of egg production belonged to the treatment with 1% of black seeds. Aydin et al. (2008) added black seeds to the diet of Leghorn laying hens of line strains and reported that black seeds at the levels of 2 and 3% positively affected egg production and shell quality and reduced cholesterol in the yolk. Hasankhah et al., (2021) investigated different black seed levels on the safety and performance of laying hens and reported that using 4% and 5% black seeds positively influenced egg production. Fertility and overall hatching were affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05), but fertile eggs and the weight of hatched chicks were not affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05). The highest and the lowest fertility and hatch belonged to the treatments with 2% and 1% of black seeds, respectively. Madrasi and Pournaji (2018) studies on the effect of black seed hydroalcoholic extract on female reproductive factors in small laboratory mice showed that this extract increased the follicle graph and corpus luteum, which could have a positive result in female fertility. Except for mid-embryonic losses, other embryonic parameters were not affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05). Blood parameters were not affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05). Taghiani et al. (2010) investigated the effect of black seeds (2 and 4 g/kg) in the basic diet of broiler chickens on blood parameters. Their results showed that serum biochemical parameters, including albumin, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol, were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, black seed can have an effect on fertility, hatchability, and egg production due to the presence of compounds such as thymoquinone, fatty acids, and piscimen, and resulting in better reproductive performance in mother quails. In general, the use of black seeds at a 2% level in the Japanese quail diet can positively affect fertility and egg production.
