The effects of royal jelly on performance and fatty acid profles of different tissues in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) reared under high stocking density

Abstract

To study the effects of royal jelly (RJ) on performance and fatty acid profles, 168 unsexed 8-day-old quails (Coturnix coturnixjaponica ) were assigned to 4 treatment groups. Groups were arranged as follows: control (LSD; 160 cm 2/quail and no supplementation),high stocking density (HSD; 80 cm 2/quail and no supplementation), HSD-RJ 250 [80 cm 2/quail and 250 mg/kg body weight (BW) RJgiven orally], and HSD-RJ 500 (80 cm 2/quail and 500 mg/kg BW RJ given orally). Body weight gain decreased signifcantly in the HSDgroup at day 42 (P < 0.01). Feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were also signifcantly afected in the HSD group (P < 0.01).FI and FCR were improved by both doses of RJ. Both RJ doses increased total polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios in the breast, kidney (P< 0.001), leg, and liver (P < 0.05). Total saturated fatty acid ratios in leg (P < 0.01) and kidney (P < 0.05) tissues increased in the HSDgroup but decreased in the livers of HSD-RJ 250 group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, RJ supplementation improved performance parametersand unsaturated fatty acid ratios in the examined quail tissues.