The effects of supplementation boron, zinc and their cadmium combinations on performance, eggshell quality, reproductive and biomechanical properties of bone in quail breeders

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary boron, zinc and their combinations to polluted diets with cadmium on performance, eggshell quality, reproductive and biomechanical properties of tibia in quails. A total of 60 male and 120 female quails, 20 weeks old, were randomly distributed in six equal diets groups. Diet I was control group, Diet II was added 20 mg/kg cadmium. Diet III was administered 20 mg/kg cadmium + 60 mg/kg boron. Diet IV was administered 20 mg/kg cadmium + 50 mg/kg zinc. Diet V was administered 20 mg/kg cadmium + 30 mg/kg boron + 25 mg/kg zinc. Diet VI was administered 20 mg/kg cadmium + 60 mg/kg boron + 50 mg/kg zinc. Effect of treatments on body weight, egg weight, feed intake, mortality, eggs damaged, specific gravity, eggshell weight, shear force, shear stress and hatchability were not significant (p>0.05). However, the diet VI had a significant adverse effect on the some performance parameters (egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio). Egg quality and fertility were improved by the addition of cadmium. Cortex thickness and cortex cross section area of tibia were the best when quails fed with diet III. Results of the present study showed that the supplementation of 20 mg/kg cadmium to the diets had positive effect on eggshell quality in quail breeders.