Evaluation of the Effects of Spirulina platensis Extract on Productive Performance, Egg Quality and Serum Composition in Laying Japanese Quails Under Dexamethasone-induced Stress

In a ۳×۲ factorial arrangement, the effects of dietary Spirulina platensis extract (۰, ۰.۴ and ۰.۶ g/kg of diet) and dexamethasone (۰ and ۱ g/kg of diet) and their interactions were investigated on production performance, egg quality and hematological parameters in Japanese quails. A total of ۱۵۰ laying Japanese quails, aged ۸ wk, were divided into six treatments, five replicates with five birds each. Dietary dexamethasone supplementation decreased egg production, feed intake, egg weight and egg mass (p < ۰.۰۵). Moreover, the birds fed with dietary dexamethasone demonstrated a greater feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to quails-fed diets without dexamethasone (p < ۰.۰۵). Dexamethasone treatment significantly also reduced shell thickness and yolk color in layer quail hens (p < ۰.۰۵). Supplemental Spirulina platensis extract significantly increased egg production, feed intake and egg mass (p < ۰.۰۵). Adding Spirulina platensis extract to the diet of laying Japanese quails improved the FCR compared to quails-fed diets without Spirulina platensis extract (p < ۰.۰۵). Spirulina platensis (۰.۴ g/kg of diet) added diets reduced serum triglyceride of the quails (p < ۰.۰۵). Eggshell thickness in quails fed on diets supplemented with Spirulina platensis extract was significantly greater compared to quails fed diets without Spirulina platensis extract (p < ۰.۰۵). The yolk color index in birds maintained on the diets supplemented with Spirulina platensis extract (۰.۴ and ۰.۶ g/kg of diet) was significantly greater than the birds fed diets without Spirulina platensis extract (p < ۰.۰۵). Based on the findings of the present research, the addition of dexamethasone (۱ g/kg) to the diet of laying quails induced stress and also dietary supplementation of Spirulina platensis extract at ۰.۴ and ۰.۶ g/kg of diet improved egg production, egg mass, FCR, eggshell thickness and yolk color index.

کلیدواژه ها:

Egg ، Microalgae ، Quail ، Stress