The effect of different levels of coenzyme Q10 on performance, carcass characteristic, some blood parametes, immune system, organoleptic properties of meat and gastrointestinal tract development of male Japanese quails (Coturnix Japonica)

The effect of levels of coenzyme Q10 on performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters, immune system, organoleptic properties of meat and gastrointestinal tract development of Japanese quails, was conducted using 605 one- day old Japanese quails in a completely randomized design with 11 treatments and 5 replicates from1 to 35 days of age. The experimental treatments included negative control, control, positive control and dietary levels of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 210 mg/kg coenzyme Q10. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio and daily weight gain were measured in whole experimental period. The antibody titers against Newcastle and influenza vaccines and also sheep red blood cells were measured at 30 day of age. The feed conversion ratio was lower in treatment containing 210 mg/kg coenzyme Q10 than negative control treatment (P<0.01). The antibody titers against Newcastle and influenza and also SRBC were significantly increased as dietary level of coenzyme Q10 increased (P<0.01). The blood urea nitrogen concentration decreased by consumption of diets containing coenzyme Q10 than that of negative control treatment (P<0.01). The concentration of red and white blood cells and ileal crypts depth of quails fed diets containing coenzyme Q10 were higher than birds of negative control group (P<0.01). The meat redness and lightness showed improvement in quails fed diet containing 210 mg/kg of coenzyme Q10 in compared with birds of negative control treatment (P<0.01). Based on the results of this study, the addition of coenzyme Q10 up to the level of 210 mg/kg in the diet of Japanese quails improves the performance, blood parameters, immune system, and organoleptic properties of meat.