EFFECT OF DIETARY SUMAC SEED POWDER AS ANTIOXIDANTS AND GROWTH PROMOTER ON EGG PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD OF JAPANESE QUAIL LAYING

The effect of various levels of sumac seed powder (SSP) as antioxidant and growth promoter on laying performance, egg production, egg quality, some plasma concentration and reproductive performance of Japanese quail was investigated using 180 birds in 9 weeks of age, randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (0.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% SSP) with 45 birds per treatment and 3 replicates (10 hens and 5 cocks each). The results obtained can be summarized as follows: At the overall periods quail fed 2% SSP recorded significant the highest (p≤0.05) feed consumption compared with 2.5% SSP, while, all levels of SSP recorded the best values of feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. Also, egg production %, egg number, egg weight and egg mass/hen/day for SSP treatments were significantly (p≤0.05)increased than those fed control diet. Sumac seed powder supplements significantly (p≤0.05) increased albumin height, internal quality unit, color yolk, shell% and yolk / albumin ratio. However, albumin% and shell thickness were significantly decreased compared with control group. Also, most levels of SSP had improved the blood hematological parameters such as white blood cells, hemoglobin, red blood cells and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration feeding especial birds fed 1.5 and 2% SSP compared to the control group. The birds fed 1.5% SSP recorded significantly (p≤0.05) the highest value for globulin and improved A/G ratio compared with other treatments. The plasma lipid profile, liver enzymes and total lipid were significantly reduced (p≤0.05) but increased total antioxidant capacity and by supplementation SSP. Reproductive performance significantly (p≤0.05)improved by feeding SSP. In conclusion, the data obtained showed that the diet supplemented with the sumac seed powder (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%) for Japanese quail laying improved egg performance, egg quality, most of the blood hematological, blood biochemical parameters and reproductive performance.