The effects of different levels of propolis on performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acids and some biochemical parameters in quails feeding under stocking density

This study was planned to determine the effects of antioxidant effective propolis supplemented feeds on performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acids in some tissues, serum MDA and some blood parameters in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) feeding under stocking density.In experiment, eight- days old, 288 quail chicks were used. Quails were randomly divided into the control and 4 treatment groups and were placed into cages (40x32 cm) including 4 replicates from each group. Quails of control (160 cm2/quail) and higher stocking density groups (80 cm2/quail) were reared in different cage densities. The experimental groups were designed as no supplementing to basal ration under optimum stocking density (control- C); no supplementing to basal ration under higher stocking density (HS); supplementing of 0.5g/kg EEP (ethanolic extraction propolis) to basal ration under higher stocking density (EEP?0.5); supplementing of 1g/kg propolis to basal ration under higher stocking density (EEP?1) and supplementing of 1.5g/kg propolis to basal ration under higher stocking density (EEP?1.5) for 8?42 days of period.Increased body weight gain (P<0.01) and feed intake (P<0.01), improvement in feed convertion rate (P<0.01) were found in propolis supplemented quails feeding under higher stocking density in comparison with HS group in 8?42. days. Mortality rate was higher in the HS group (7.5 %) than C group (2.5 %) in 8?42. days. Carcass characteristics of groups were not significantly found (P>0.05). Increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of breast (P<0.01) and thigh muscles (P<0.05); kidney (P<0.01) and liver (P<0.01) tissues were determined in propolis supplemented groups in comparison with HS group. N6-PUFA levels of breast (P<0.001) and thigh muscles (P<0.05); kidney (P<0.05) tissue found higher propolis supplemented groups than those of HS group. Significantly higher levels of saturated fatty acids were found in breast (P<0.05) and thigh (P<0.01) muscles, kidney (P<0.05) and liver (P<0.05) of HS group than those of other groups, whereas that of adipose tissue were similar in all groups. Serum malondialdehyde level of HS group were found significantly (P<0.01) higher than those of control and EEP groups. The levels of plasma albumin (P<0.05), creatinine (P<0.05), globulin (P<0.001), total protein (P<0.001), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (except for EEP?0.5 group) (P<0.01) and low-density lipoprotein (P<0.001) in the HS group were significantly higher than those of other groups.As a result, dietary EEP supplementation decreased negative effects on performance, fatty acids and blood parameters of stress in quails feeding under higher stocking density.Key words: Japanase Quail, Propolis, Stocking Density, Performance, Fatty Acids.