Influence of Feeding Natural and Synthetic Lycopene on Performance, Egg Quality and Serum Parameters of Japanese Quail Layers

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of natural and synthetic sources of lycopene on performance, egg quality and some blood characteristics of Japanese quail layers. Methods: The 252 eight-week-old quail hens were randomly divided into seven treatments with three replication. The first treatment was fed basal diet (control). Second and third treatments were given diets containing tomato fruit powder (TOM) at a level of 17 and 34 g/kg equal to 50 and 100 mg/kg lycopene, fourth and fifth treatments were given red bell pepper fruit powder (RBP) at level 16.23, 32.46 g/kg equal to 50 and 100 mg/kg lycopene, while synthetic lycopene powder at a rate of 50, 100 (mg/kg) was supplemented to sixth and seventh respectively. Result: The final body (T4-T6), hen day egg production (except for T3 and T6), egg weight, egg mass (T4, T5), feed intake, FCR were improved as compared to control. Significant effect on the weight of eggshell, yolk, albumen and albumen (height and diameter). Yolk (height, diameter, index) improved as compared to control. Significant (P≤0.05) increase in total protein and HDL, while cholesterol (except T2 and T7), triglycerides (except T2) and LDL were decreased significantly (P≤0.05). It could be concluded that supplementary TOM, RBP and LY, have beneficial effects on laying performance, egg quality traits and some biochemical indices of quails.