Effects of vitamin E and selenium on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34 degrees C).
This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin E (dL-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate) and selenium (Se; Na2-SeO3) on performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 degrees C). A total of 120 10-day-old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds with a 2 x 2 factorial design received either two levels of vitamin E (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) or two levels of Se (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg of diet). A 250-mg vitamin E/kg of diet compared with that of 125 mg/kg of diet and higher dietary Se inclusions (0.1 vs. 0.2 mg/kg) resulted in a better performance (p=0.001). The interaction between vitamin E and Se for feed intake (p=0.03), final body weight change (p=0.03) and feed efficiency (p=0.001) was detected. Carcass yield increased with increasing both dietary vitamin E and Se (p=0.001). The interactions on carcass characteristics were all non-significant (p > 0.06). Digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP and ether extract) was higher with higher dietary vitamin E (p=0.03), and DM digestibility was also higher with higher dietary Se (p=0.05). There were no interactions detected for digestibility of nutrients (p=0.28). From the results of the present study, it was concluded that a combination of 250 mg of vitamin E and 0.2 mg of Se provides the greatest performance in Japanese quails reared under heat stress and this combination can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.
Sahin
K
K
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, University of Fýrat, 23119 Elazýg, Turkey. ksahin@firat.edu.tr
Kucuk
O
O
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium