Effect of Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) Powder and Oil Additives on Reproductive Performance and Some Hormones Indicators of Quails

Abstract

The present trial was conducted to investigate the effect of using bay leaf powder and its oil on male semen characteristics, female reproductive traits, plasma hormonal alteration and hatchability of local quails. The results were summarized the uses of different levels of bay leaf (Laurel nobilis L.) and its oil as feed additives in quail diets were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in body weight, testis relative weight, gonadosomatic index, size area of cloaca gland, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, mass motility, individual motility, live & normal morphology sperm, semen quality factor, seminal plasma testosterone and LH hormones in quail males. Also in females: egg production (H.D %), egg weight, egg mass, eggshell strength, normal eggs for hatching, fertility, hatching of fertile and total eggs, weight of hatched chicks, blood plasma of estrogen, LH and FSH hormones concentrations, also improved in FCR and H/L ratio. While, the results seemed significantly (P≤0.05) lower in dead sperm. Females in: cracked eggs, total dead embryos. Whereas there were non-significant differences among all treatment in males: mortality, left-right testicular weight ratio, testicular shape index, FSH hormone, also females in: feed Intake. From the results of bay leaf oil additives had positively effect on body performance, males and females' reproductive parameters, improved blood hormones and hatchability more effective than bay leaf powder.