Effect of Transient Treatment with Propylthiouracil on Some Reproduction Traits and Live Weight of Japanese Quails

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effects of transient treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU) on some reproduction traits and live weight of quails. The trial lasted 8 weeks. To accomplish this goal, 700 1-day-old quail chicks were used, randomly divided into 8 groups. PTU was added to feed by 0.1% and 0.5% /wt. The first 4 groups had 0.5% PTU at the age of 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and 2-8 wk., respectively. The 5 th, 6 th and 7 th groups had 0.1% PTU at the age of 2-4, 4-6 and 6-8 wk., respectively, and the 8 th group was the control with no PTU. Quails were bled at 60 days of age. Then right and left testes were taken out and weighed. At the end of the trail, least square means of the live weight of the treatment groups were higher than the control (p<0.05). Similar results (p<0.05) were observed for testis weight, testis diameter and fertility rate. As a result, it can be said that the inclusion of PTU in quail rations positively affects the live weight and reproduction traits of quails.

摘要
本研究旨在探讨丙硫氧嘧啶（propylthiouracil，PTU）短期处理对鹌鹑部分繁殖性状与活体重的影响。本试验周期为8周。
为实现该研究目标，选取700羽1日龄鹌鹑雏鸡，将其随机分为8组。试验组饲料中分别按0.1%和0.5%（质量分数）添加PTU。前4组分别在2~4周龄、4~6周龄、6~8周龄以及2~8周龄阶段饲喂添加0.5% PTU的饲料；第5、6、7组分别在2~4周龄、4~6周龄、6~8周龄阶段饲喂添加0.1% PTU的饲料；第8组为不添加PTU的空白对照组。
于鹌鹑60日龄时采集血液样本，随后摘取其左右两侧睾丸并称重。试验结束后，各处理组鹌鹑的活体重最小二乘均值均显著高于空白对照组（p<0.05）。睾丸重量、睾丸直径与受精率也得到了相似的统计学显著结果（p<0.05）。
综上可知，在鹌鹑日粮中添加PTU可对鹌鹑的活体重与繁殖性状产生积极影响。