Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Full-Fat Canola Seeds on Productive Performance, Blood Metabolites and Antioxidant Status of Laying Japanese Quails

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of full-fat canola seeds (FFCS) on productive performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. A total of 360, 8-week-old quails were divided into a completely randomize design with 4 dietary experimental groups and three pens each, each pen containing 30hens. The experimental groups were fed iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets supplemented with FFCS at levels 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg diet. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. All supplemented groups showed significant effects in the final body weight (g), hen feed consumption (g/hen/day), egg mass (g egg/hen/day) and hen-day egg production (%). However, egg weight (g) at 8-12 weeks of age reduced significantly. Moreover, feed conversion ratio (g feed/g egg), did not alter among groups. Egg quality criteria were not affected by FFCS supplementationexcept for the egg shape index which decreased significantly at 10 and 15% FFCS groups. Serum total protein, albumen, uric acid, creatinine, hepatic enzyme activities, triiodothyronine, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterolconcentrations were not altered. However, serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol showed significant reduction in all treated groups. Furthermore, serum glutathione peroxidase level was greatly influencedin supplemented groups, while malondialdehyde level reduced significantly. In conclusion, FFCS inclusion in Laying Japanese quail diets up to 15% enhanced the laying performance, blood lipids profile and anti-oxidative status. Thus, it can be regarded as alternative sources of energy and protein in poultry rations.