The effect of moringa oleifera leaf, canola seedpowder, acetic acid, and thyme oil on fattening, layingperformance, carcass yield, plasma blood parameters,and microbiota in japanese quails (Coturnix corturnix Japanica)

Two different studies were conducted in quails to understand the effects of different additives on fattening performance and animal health in poultry rations. Both trials lasted for 52 days, including 35 days of fattening performance and 14 days of spawning. In the first trial, it was aimed to determine the effect of Moringa leaf, canola seed and their mixture as a feed additive on the fattening performance of Japanese quails. The 1st group was additive-free control, the 2nd group added 0.4% Moringa leaf to the standard ration, the 3rd group added 0.4% canola seed to the standard ration, and the 4th group added 0.4% canola seed + 0.4% Moringa leaf to the standard ration. Final body weight, feed conversion and egg production did not differ significantly at the end of the trial (P<0.05). Feed consumption differed significantly between the groups (P<0.05), and canola groups consumed more feed. Feeding with Moringa leaf and canola seed significantly increased carcass, liver, gizzard, abdominal fat, total protein, blood P, and Ca levels compared to the control group. Among all groups, triglyceride, HDL and cholesterol, LDL, ALT, and glucose levels did not change in blood analysis, but only the total protein level was higher in the groups that consumed Moringa leaf powder. Moringa leaf and canola + Moringa treatment groups reduced many pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract, and this had a positive effect on the digestive and immune systems. In the second experiment, it was aimed to determine the effects of adding acetic acid to feed and thyme oil to drinking water, especially on feed hygiene, fattening and laying performance of Japanese quails. The formation of the groups is in the form of 1st group additive-free standard control feed, 2nd group standard feed + 2% acetic acid, 3rd group standard feed and thyme oil (5ml/L) for drinking water. As a result of the study, it was seen that acetic acid and thyme oil significantly affected body weight gain and feed consumption and changed the feed conversion value negatively at 0-3 and 0-7 weeks. There was no significant difference in egg production between the groups. In addition, some visceral values did not differ between the groups, except for the gizzard weight. Blood values did not change between groups. There were no differences in ALT, LDL, magnesium and phosphorus values between groups and genders. Significant results were obtained in the second experiment in terms of small intestine microbial flora and cecum pH decreased significantly in acetic acid and thyme oil groups, and also E. coli, Coliform bacteria counts, and yeast and mold levels showed a numerical significant decrease in Acetic acid and thyme oil groups (P<0.05).