Effect of different levels of Alhaji maurorum L. on performance, meat quality and blood serum antioxidant status of Japanese quail

Abstract

Introduction: Reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing the oxidative stability of meat are
among the topics considered by livestock and poultry industry experts. Achieving this goal
requires increasing the antioxidant capacity of cells as a reducing agent of lipid oxidation.
Alhaji maurorum is rich in antioxidants due to its antioxidant compounds such as quercetin
and catechin. This study was performed to investigate the effect of different levels of Alhaji
maurorum on performance, meat quality and blood serum antioxidant status of Japanese quail.
Materials & Methods: A total of 300 Japanese quail chicks from 14-35 days old were used
in a completely randomized design in 5 experimental groups with 6 replications and 10 birds
in each replication. Experimental groups included control, 1, 2, 3 and 4% Alhaji maurorum.
Parameters related to performance, meat quality and serum antioxidant status and antioxidant
enzymes were measured and their difference were examined between different levels of Alhaji
maurorum.
Results: Levels of 2 and 3% Alhaji maurorum had more weight gain in the whole
experimental period than the control treatment without having a significant effect on feed
intake (P<0.05). Also, in the first week of experiment, 2 and 3 percent levels of Alhaji
maurorum significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Meat quality parameters
including water holding capacity, drip loss, cooking loss, thawing loss and oxidative stability
of meat were significantly affected by different levels of Alhaji maurorum (P <0.05). Birds
receiving different levels of Alhaji maurorum had higher total antioxidant capacity as well as
the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase concentration
compared to the control group (P<0.05)
Conclusion: Due to the positive effect of 2 and 3% Alhaji maurorum levels on the meat
quality and performance parameters of growing Japanese quail, the use of these Alhaji
maurorum levels in their diets is recommended.