Effect of different levels of Aloe vera gel powder on performance, intestinal microflora and gastrointestinal organs in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of dietary Aloe vera gel powder on performance، gastrointestinal organs and intestinal microflora in Japanese quails. Seven hundred one day old Japanese quails were allocated in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments replicated 5 times each with 35 birds per replicate for 6 weeks. The experimental treatments were: 1) control group (basal diet، diet without aloe vera gel powder)، 2) basal diet + 0. 1 percent of aloe vera gel powder. 3) basal diet + 0. 2 percent of aloe vera gel powder، and 4) basal diet + 0. 3 percent of aloe vera gel powder. The bacteria populations of the intestinal tract were investigated using eosin methylene blue، MRS agar and agar nutrient media. The results did not show any significant differences between dietary treatments for feed intake، feed conversion ratio and weight gain (P>0. 05). There were also no significant differences between the dietary treatments for the relative weight of thigh، gizzard and liver (P>0. 05). For duodenal weight، there were significant differences between control group and treatments supplemented with 0. 2 and 0. 3 % of Aloe vera gel powder (P<0. 05). However، threre were not significant differences between the dietary treatments for the relative weights of jejunum and ileum (P>0. 05). In spite of non-effective impact of Aloe vera gel powder on the performance of the quails، the results indicated a beneficial effect for Aloe vera gel powder on gut microflora by decreasing and increasing the counts of E-Coli and lactobacillus، respectively. Therefore، adding Aloe vera gel powder to the diets of Japanese quails could be recommended in order to controlling the gut microflora communities and enhancing the health status.