Effects of dietary oregano oil supplementation on performance parameters and intestinal morphology of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under normal and cold stress situation

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary oregano oil supplementation on growth characteristics in Japanese quails reared in normal and cold temperatures. Three hundred 1-day old Japanese quail were randomly divided into five groups: One control group and two treatment groups of 100 and 200 mg of essential oil of oregano/kg in normal temperature (groups 1, 2, and 3); One control and a treatment group of 100 mg Oregano essential oil/kg in a cold stress situation (groups 4 and 5). All the groups were subjected to the same temperature regimen until the 14th day. At the age of 14, the cold stress groups were transferred into a different house in which the temperature ranged between 10 to 13°C until the 35th day of age. At the end of the experiment, performance parameters and intestinal morphology were analyzed; performance parameters were not affected by supplementing oregano oil at normal temperature. On the other hand, dietary supplementation of oregano essential oil at the level of 100 mg/kg under cold stress situations improved Japanese quail’s body weight, FCR, and intestinal villus morphology. This study indirectly states that the supplementation of the oregano essential oil components to the Japanese quail’s diet would delay the adverse effects caused by cold stress on the birds’ performance.