Effect of dietary organic acid and Aloe vera L. supplementation on egg production, egg quality and some blood serum parameters in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of butyric acid and Aloe vera L. on performance، intestinal morphology، blood factors and egg quality in laying Japanese quail. Total of 120 layer quails were randomly assigned to six experimental treatments and five replicates، each with four birds in a completely randomized design for seven weeks. Experimental groups were: 1- control basal diet (Without organic acid and Aloe vera supplements) 2- basal diet+Aloe vera (1%) 3- basal diet +sodium butyrate (500ppm) 4-basal diet+butyric acid glycerides-Baby C4 (500ppm) 5- basal diet +Aloe vera (1%) +sodium butyrate (500) 6- basal diet+Aloe vera (1%) +butyric acid glycerides (500ppm). In this experiment، egg production ratio، feed intake، feed conversion and egg weight were not affected by the treatments. All treatments lowered the cholesterol contents of serum and yolk compared to control group (p<0. 01). Treatments significantly influenced jejunum villi (p<0. 001). The use of Aloe vera alone and combination of Aloe vera andsodium butyrate or butyric acid glycerides produced eggs with reduced cholesterol content. Simultaneous use of Aleo vera and butyric acid glycerides significantly increased the villi height and surface area and the highest villi width and the deepest villi crypts were observed in this group. In conclusion، supplementation of layer quails’ diets with Aloe vera significantly reduced serum and yolk cholesterol contents، which may confer health benefits to consumers.