Effects of dietary Ferula elaeochytris root powder on the growth and reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica): it is not recommended in a breeder diet

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Ferula elaeochytris (FE) root powder on the growth and reproductive performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). In the first stage of the experiment (2-5 weeks), 135 two-week old quail chicks were divided into three experimental groups, each including 45 birds: control, FE5 (5 g FE root powder per kg grower diet) and FE10 (10 g FE root powder per kg grower diet). These groups were subdivided into three replicates. Grower diet included 220 g CP and 13.0 MJ ME kg(-1). In the second stage of the experiment (5-12 weeks), the quails were treated with the respective FE doses within a layer diet containing 160 g CP and 10.9 MJ kg(-1). In the first stage of the experiment (growth period), addition of FE root powder to the grower diet did not affect body weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05). In the second stage of the experiment (reproductive period), there was no effect on age at sexual maturity, body weight of quail at 50% egg production, the first ten egg, weights, mean egg weight, egg production or egg quality characteristics (P > 0.05). Even though the testis weight of male quail was increased by FE treatment in a dose-dependent manner (7.02 g, 9.72 g and 9.57 g in respective groups), fertility and hatchability were totally depressed by FE treatment. In conclusion, FE root powder had no oestrogenic effect on quail hens, but caused infertility in males, suggesting that FE root powder must not be used in breeder quail flocks.