Investigation of the effect of chamomile flower powder (CFP) on performance traits, lipid profile and morphology jejunum of Japanese quail from ۷ to ۳۵ days of age

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chamomile (Chamomilia Matricaria L.) flower powder on performance, blood parameters and morphological jejunum of Japanese quail from ۷ to ۳۵ days of age. A total of ۲۰۰ ۷-day-old male Japanese quail were as randomly distributed to ۵ treatments, with ۴ replicates, and ۱۰ birds in each pen. The experimental treatment included (T۱) a control diet (treated only by basal diet), (T۲-T۵) basal diet supplemented with of ۰.۵, ۱, ۱.۵ and ۲ % of CFP, respectively. Live body weight (LBW) and Feed intake (FI) as weekly were determined, and then feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. At the final of research, from each experimental treatment, ۵ birds with an average weight close to the same treatment were selected, blood and intestine (jejunum section) samples were removed at ۳۵ days of age for further analysis. Blood sample were collected from the axillary vein and poured into test tubes without heparin. Blood serum was separated using centrifuge and stored at -۲۰ₒC until the test. Then, the birds were slaughtered and after opening the abdominal cavity, a section (۳ cm) from the middle part of the jejunum was separated and kept in ۱۰% formalin (pH=۷.۲) to investigate the jejunum morphology. Results showed that live body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved (P<۰.۰۵) at the birds fed with CFP compared to control. Adding of ۱% and ۱.۵% CFP (T۳ and T۴) to the basal diet showed the best performance results. The level of HDL had significantly (P<۰.۰۵) decreased in the birds fed CFP (T۳ and T۴) compared to control. Other lipid profile parameters were not significantly (P>۰.۰۵) affected by CFP used, although results indicated a numerically trend decreasing compared to control. Villus height and depth crypt of bird jejunum significantly increased (P<۰.۰۵) with comparison to control. In conclusion, these results suggest that dietary supplementation with ۱% and/or ۱.۵% CFP has beneficial effect on growth performance, lipid profile and jejunum morphometric of quails.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chamomile ، jejunum ، Lipid ، performance ، quail