Effects of fennel seed supplementation of ration on performance, egg quality, serum cholesterol, and total phenol content of egg yolk of laying quails

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) supplementation of ration on performance, egg quality, and serum cholesterol of laying quails during an eight-week period. For this purpose, 96 quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of 16 weeks of age were evenly separated into one control group and three treatment groups. Each group was divided into four replicates, each containing six quail. The fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare) were added to the diets of the first, second, and third treatment groups at levels of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9%, respectively. No significant effect of dietary fennel seed supplementation was recorded on body weight, feed intake, egg production, and egg weight. Feed efficiency (kg feed per kg egg) of the 0.6% treatment group was negatively affected by fennel seed supplementation; however, kilogram of feed:dozen egg ratio was not affected when compared with the control group. The effects of dietary treatments on shape index, albumen height, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index, yolk colour, blood cholesterol level, and total phenol content of egg yolk had no significance. Dietary fennel seed do not affect the egg quality and blood cholesterol level of laying quail. The amount of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% dietary fennel seed supplementation do not have any adverse effect on performance and egg quality of laying quail.

摘要 本研究旨在评估为期八周的日粮添加小茴香（Foeniculum vulgare Mill.）籽对产蛋鹌鹑生产性能、蛋品质及血清胆固醇水平的影响。本次试验选取96只16周龄的日本鹌鹑（Coturnix coturnix japonica），将其平均分为1个对照组与3个试验组；每组再划分为4个重复单元，每个重复单元包含6只鹌鹑。分别在第1、2、3试验组的日粮中添加0.3%、0.6%与0.9%的小茴香籽。结果表明，日粮添加小茴香籽对鹌鹑的体重、采食量、产蛋率及蛋重无显著影响。0.6%添加组的料蛋比（每千克蛋消耗千克饲料）受到小茴香籽添加的负面影响，但按每打蛋所需饲料千克数计算的料蛋比与对照组相比无显著差异。日粮处理对蛋形指数、蛋白高度、蛋白指数、哈氏单位（Haugh unit）、蛋黄指数、蛋黄颜色、血清胆固醇水平以及蛋黄总酚含量均无显著影响。日粮添加小茴香籽不会影响产蛋鹌鹑的蛋品质与血清胆固醇水平。日粮中添加0.3%、0.6%及0.9%的小茴香籽均不会对产蛋鹌鹑的生产性能与蛋品质产生任何不良影响。