Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation on Egg Production Traits and Eggshell Quality in Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Reared under High Ambient Temperature

Authors : Hüsnü Erbay BARDAKÇIOĞLU, Mehmet Kenan TÜRKYILMAZ, Ahmet NAZLIGÜL

Pages : 1185-1189

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin C supplementation on some egg production traits and eggshell quality in Japanese quails reared under high ambient temperature. One hundred fifty-eight 11-week-old female Japanese quails were used. The birds were divided into 4 dietary treatment groups according to vitamin C levels as follows: control insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(basal ration);, treatment I insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(basal ration + 150 ppm vitamin C);, treatment II insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(basal ration + 250 ppm vitamin C); and treatment III insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(basal ration + 500 ppm vitamin C);. The quails were housed for 9 weeks at high ambient temperature insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(34 ± 2 °C);. No statistically significant difference insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P > 0.05); among the treatment groups for livability was observed. The mean egg production of the control and treatments I, II and III groups were 83.13%, 82.54%, 83.29% and 86.43%, respectively. Treatment III`s average was significantly insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05); higher than that of the other groups. Vitamin C supplementation had no effect on feed consumption, feed conversion ratio or eggshell thickness. The average egg and eggshell weights insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(g); of the control and treatments I, II and III groups were 9.77, 9.66, 9.89 and 9.63 g and 0.82, 0.80, 0.83 and 0.80 g, respectively. In conclusion, adding vitamin C to the quail ration under heat stress had no significant effect on production traits with the exception of egg production in laying Japanese quails.
Keywords : Japanese quails, vitamin C, heat stress, egg production