title: Effects of medium-chain fatty acids on performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical parameters and immune response in Japanese quail.
abstract: This study had the aim of evaluating the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) on performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters and antibody titre against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in quail. A total of 240 quail chicks were allotted to 4 treatments consisting of respectively 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg dietary MCFA. There were no significant differences in body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments at different stages of the experiment. MCFAs had no significant effect on breast, thigh, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius weight ratios. However, the relative weight of abdominal fat significantly decreased in quail receiving 0.2 and 0.4 MCFA as compared to other treatments. Concentrations of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol were decreased and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was increased in quail chicks receiving MCFA compared with control quail chicks. The concentrations of SRBC antibody were not statistically different among treatments. It is concluded that MCFA significantly decreased LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol and abdominal fat and increased HDL in quail chicks.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Animal Science , Agriculture School, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University , Sanandaj , Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saeidi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Animal Science , Agriculture School, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University , Sanandaj , Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shokrollahi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Animal Science , Agriculture School, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University , Varamin , Iran.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Animal Science , Agriculture School, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University , Sanandaj , Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiri-Andi
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D003370:Coturnix / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids