Effects on the Performance and Some Carcass Parameters of Addition of Butyric Acid and Prebiotic in the Quail Rations

Abstract

This study had been performed in order to research the effects on performance and some carcass parameters of the addition of prebiotic and butyric acid and of their combined use in quail rations as a growth factor alternative to antibiotics. The research was carried out by 144 male-female Japanese Quails of daily age as having 4 groups-that are the control group in which no addition was made, the group in which 1g/kg butyric acid was added, the group in which 0,5g/kg prebiotic was added, and the group in which 1g/kg butyric acid and 0,5g/kg prebiotic was added-, and as performing 3 repetitions each including 12 animals. As the result of the research, no statistically significant difference could be found among the groups in respect of live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (p>0,05). Moreover, no statistical difference could be found among the groups in respect of hot carcass weight and yield and proportional weights of giblets, liver and heart which are the parameters for cutting (p>0,05). In this research, it was concluded that single or combined use of butyric acid and prebiotic have no effect on quails.