Growth performance, carcass traits and meat physical characteristics of growing Japanese quail fed ginger powder and frankincense oil as feed additives

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the effects of dietary frankincense oil and ginger on the growth efficiency of growing Japanese quail, including live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, and physical characteristics of the meat. In total, 150 unsexed Japanese quail chicks that were seven days old were utilized in the experiment. The chicks were randomly divided into five groups. Each group was divided into three replicates with ten birds in a completely randomized design. Group 1 received a basal diet without supplements and was used as a control group. Groups 2 and 3 received basal diets with 250 and 500 mg of ginger per kg of diet, respectively. Groups 4 and 5 received basal diets with 200 and 400 mg of frankincense oil per kg of diet, respectively. Results showed that BW of chicks received 500 mg of ginger and the two levels of frankincense oil at 5 weeks of age, and 250 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil at 6 weeks significantly increased. BWG was significantly increased by using 500 mg of ginger and two levels of frankincense oil at 1-3 weeks, 250 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil at 3-6 weeks, and 1-6 weeks of age, in comparison with the control group. Treatments insignificantly influenced feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved considerably by using 250mg of ginger and 400mg of frankincense at 3-6 weeks and 1-6 weeks of age, respectively. Gizzard% was notably reduced with 200mg of frankincense oil. The pH value of meat was significantly increased by having two levels of ginger. Still, water holding capacity and tenderness significantly decreased owing to 500 mg of ginger and 400 mg of frankincense oil. We can conclude that adding ginger and frankincense oil to Japanese quail diets may be beneficial.