Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LVIII
Written by Osman KUCUK, Kerim KILINC
The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of supplemental selenium (Se) and chromium (Cr) on live performance and some blood parameters in quails. A total of 90 10-day-old quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used, and the work was terminated after 30 days. The birds were randomly assigned to caging units, 30 birds each. Water and the diets were consumed by the birds ad libitum throughout the experiment. The quails were fed either 1- a basal diet, 2- the basal diet supplemented with either 0.2 ppm Se(SeO2) or 3- the basal diet supplemented with 0.2 ppm Se plus 500 ppm Cr (Na2Cr2O7.2H2O).Supplemental Se and Se+Cr resulted in a decrease in live weight gains (P ≥ 0.0238). Supplemental Se decreased the live weight gain but a combination of Se+Cr caused alleviation on this decrease. Feed consumption increased in quails fed a diet supplemented with Se; however, supplementing Se and Cr together decreased the feed consumption but still greater than that of control (P < 0.0001). Feed conversion ratio did not change among treatments (P = 0.3220). Selenium supplementation alone did not change the serum concentrations of glucose or total protein whereas Se+Cr treatment resulted in an increase in glucose (P = 0.0036) but a decrease in total protein concentrations (P = 0.0189). Serum cholesterol or triglycerides concentrations remained similar among treatments (P = 0.2026). Serum AST enzyme activity decreased with Se supplementation but more with Se+Cr treatments (P = 0.0587). Supplementing Se and Se+Cr to the diet of quails resulted in a decrease in serum concentrations of Ca (P = 0.0009), P (P = 0.0720) and Na (P < 0.0001) but no changes in Mg or Cl concentrations (P ≥ 0.2442). Supplementing Se and Se+Cr to the diet of quails resulted in an increase in serum concentrations of Fe, Cu, Al and Mn. Selenium treatment caused an increase in serum concentration of Zn but Se+Cr treatment resulted in a decrease in Zn concentrations (P = 0.0027). As expected, supplementing quail diets with both Se and Cr resulted in increases in serum concentrations of Se and Cr(P < 0.0001). In conclusion, Se alone or as a combination with Cr supplementation to the diet of quails resulted in a depressed live performance thus are not recommended in the diet.
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