EFFECT OF USING DIETARY NATURAL FEED ADDITIVES ON SOME PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING JAPANESE QUAIL

This study was carried out to study the effect of adding some natural feed additives such as, onion, garlic, red pepper and anise at the level of 0.5% from each into growing Japanese quail diet on some growth performance and carcass traits. A total number of 300 quail chicks two weeks old were randomly divided into 5 treatments groups (60 chicks each). Each group was subdivided into 3 replicates 20 chicks each. The experimental treatments started from 2 weeks old until 6 weeks of age. Diets and water were supplied ad-libtum. Live body weight and feed intake were weekly recorded during the experimental period. Feed conversion ratio for each replicate was calculated. At the end of the experiment 6 weeks of age, 3 birds from each treatment were selected, weighted and to determine some carcass traits. Obtained results declared that, at the end of the experiment (6 weeks of age), there was a slight improvement (P≥0.05) in body weight and body weight gain for birds fed dietary onion followed by quails fed dietary red pepper compared with other dietary treatments. No significant effect was detected on feed intake. The best (P>0.05) feed conversion ratio during the period from were 2-4 weeks were recorded for birds fed on dietary garlic followed by birds fed on dietary onion or control diet. The greatest numerically insignificant (p>0.05) giblets proportions was recorded for birds fed dietary onion followed by those fed on garlic diet compared with other dietary groups. the best insignificant (p>0.05) dressing% was recorded for birds fed dietary anise followed by those fed on dietary onion compared with other dietary groups. No significant effect was noticed on mortality rate.