Ameliorative impacts of sodium humate on heat-stressed laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica).

Abstract

A total of 300 laying Japanese quails (230.10 ± 20 g body weight) divided into fourgroups (15 birds in 5 replicates/group) were used to examine the impacts of dietary sodium humate (SH) supplementation at levels of 0% (control diet), 0.2%, 0.4%and 0.6% on egg variables and physiological merits of laying quails for 10 weeks under heat stress conditions (15Juneand 23August 2021). Results showed 0.4% SH increased (p < 0.05) weight (12.27 vs. 11.91 g), production (79.84% vs. 69.20%), mass (597.13 vs. 510.48 g)and brokenness (2.8% vs. 5.4%) of eggs as compared to control. Egg shape, shell thickness, shell strengthand cholesterol content as well as feed conversion ratio were higher (80.2, 295.8 µm, 1.468 kg/cm,2 11.08 mg/gand 2.69, p < 0.05) in 0.4% SH than in control group (75.2, 279.0 µm, 1.304 kg/cm,2 14.94 mg/gand 2.76). Feed intake, percentages of eggs' shells, yolk, albumenand serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, ASTand HDL) were not altered with the dietary SH. Birds fed on SH diets showed higher levels of globulin, calciumand phosphorus, as well as lower contents of albumin/globulin ratio, triglycerides, cholesterol, corticosterone compared with the control. Regression analysis of antioxidants expected higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase at 0.35%, and glutathioneat 0.40% SH, while the lowest concentration of malondialdehydewas computed at 0.45%. Similarly, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) maximum values were determined at 0.35% and 0.40% levels. Moreover, the concentration of tumour necrosis factor-alphaincreased (p < 0.05) in all SH levels as compared to the control group. It is conceivable to conclude that the dietary implementation of SH at a level of 0.4% improved egg variables and well-being aspects of laying quail exposed to heat stress conditions.