title: Effect of Aloe vera and clove powder supplementation on carcass characteristics, composition and serum enzymes of Japanese quails.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to study the effect of Aloe vera and clove powder supplementation on carcass characteristics, composition and serum enzymes of Japanese quails.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 120-day-old Japanese quails, which were randomly divided into four treatment groups viz. T1-control, T2-0.5% A. vera, T3-0.5% clove, and T4-(0.25% A. vera + 0.25% clove) powder, each having three replications consisting of ten Japanese quails. The birds in control group (T1) were fed no supplement whereas in treatments T2-T4 birds were supplemented with A. vera leaf powder, clove, and mixture of both (powdered form) at 0.5, 0.5, and 0.25+0.25% of feed, respectively. After 7 days of brooding, a feeding trial of 35 days was conducted. On 35(th) day of trial birds were sacrificed and dressing percentage, cut up parts, organ weight, processing losses and carcass meat composition of the breast, thigh, and drumstick were recorded. Blood samples were collected on the same day and serum was separated to evaluate serum enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It showed significantly (p<0.05) higher values of dressing percentage with and without giblet and breast weight in the T2-T4 group as compared to the T1 group. No significant (p>0.05) differences were observed in giblet weight, other cut up parts and composition of the breast, thigh, and drumstick muscles in all the treatment groups. Serum ALT and AST did not vary significantly among different treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. vera and clove supplementation improved the dressing percentage and breast weight without adversely affecting the meat composition and serum enzymes. Thus, these can be used as a growth promoter in Japanese quails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
authors.forename: Hujaz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
authors.forename: P V Raman
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Dean Home Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
authors.forename: Rita S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Raghuvanshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: ALT; AST; Aloe vera; Japanese quails; clove; dressing percentage; giblet