Influence of the Dietary Supplement of Protected Calcium Butyrate in Growing Japanese Quail Diets on Performance, Carcass Parameters, Blood Serum Biochemical Status, Meat Quality, and Jejunum Histomorphology

The effect of protected calcium butyrate (PCB) supplemented at different amounts on performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical values, jejunum histomorphology, and meat traits in Japanese quails were determined. One -day -old unsexed Japanese quails were divided into four groups with seven replicates of seven birds. A conventional corn and soybean meal -based diet was formulated, and all groups' diets were supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg PCB respectively for 42 days. From the results, PCB supplementation significantly improved body weight (BW) on the 21st day, body weight gain (BWG) between 0 to 21 days, hot carcass yield (HCY), and relative weights of the hearth. Similarly, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total cholesterol (TC), low -density lipoprotein (LDL) and villus height (VH) levels were lower in PCB -supplemented groups. Besides, PCB supplementation in Japanese quails decreased the villus-crypt rate (VCR) except for the control and the group fed with 2.0 g/kg PCB. This study showed that dietary PCB supplementation in Japanese quails' diet improved growth performance in young chicks and carcass yield, BUN, and lipid profile. On the other hand, the supplementation did not affect the antioxidant status, homocysteine, and folic acid values in blood and meat traits.