Asghar Sedaghat; Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi; Shaban Rahimi
Volume 18, Issue 2 , June 2016, , Pages 273-286
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of camphor levels on performance, organ weight, testosterone and thyroid hormones, intestinal selective bacteria, and meat peroxidation of Japanese quail. Two-hundred 1-d chicks were allocated in 20 cages with five treatments and four replicates (10 chicks ...
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This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of camphor levels on performance, organ weight, testosterone and thyroid hormones, intestinal selective bacteria, and meat peroxidation of Japanese quail. Two-hundred 1-d chicks were allocated in 20 cages with five treatments and four replicates (10 chicks per each cage) using complete randomized block design. Treatments were including: 0, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 ppm camphor which dissolved in soybean oil. Blood sample was taken then quails were slaughtered at 42-d of age. Results revealed camphor unaffected the carcass and organs weight. Also feed conversion ratio, feed intake, live body weight, and thyroid hormones unaffected by using camphor supplementation in the diet. Results showed that camphor could enhance libido by increasing the production and secretion of testosterone (P< 0.05). Dietary camphor had a significant effect on the intestinal microbial population, so that could reduce the aerobic bacteria and coliforms, whereas increased the lactic acid bacteria and spore former bacteria (P< 0.05). Meat malondialdehyde level has been also changed significantly in both sexes by camphor dietary supplementation, which increased by using 62.5, 125, and 250 ppm camphor (P< 0.05). According to the current results, using camphor is recommendable for successfully reproduction in male birds.