Abstract
This study was planned to evaluate the impact of different nano-curcumin levels on the growth rate, carcass, blood chemistry and caecal microbes of growing quail. A total of 270 Japanese quails at one-week-old were distributed to six equal groups; each group consisted of 45 unsexed birds with five replications (nine quails each). The 1st group was fed a basal diet, whereas the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th groups were fed diets containing nano-curcumin (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 g/kg diet, respectively). Nano-curcumin levels significantly increased (p ≤ 0.0001) body weight at 3 weeks and 5 weeks of age. Body weight gain during 1-3, 3-5 and 1-5 weeks of age was significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in groups treated with nano-curcumin levels (except at 0.3 g/kg; 1-3 weeks) compared to control. During 1 to 5 weeks, feed intake was decreased (p < 0.0001) in birds receiving nano-curcumin (0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 g/kg) diets. The best values of feed conversion ratio were recorded for the 0.4 g nano-curcumin-treated group. Carcass traits were not affected Nano-curcumin levels. The inclusion of nano-curcumin (0.2, 0.3 or 0.5 g/kg) significantly increased serum TP (p = 0.0004), albumin (p = 0.0078) and globulin (p < 0.0001). Quails fed with nano-curcumin (0.2 g/kg) exhibited the highest SOD and GSH activities, serum IgG and IgM concentrations and complement values compared to control. The addition of any level of nano-curcumin in the quail diet also significantly improved the lipid profile. In conclusion, supplemental nano-curcumin had beneficial impacts on growth, lipid profile, blood constituents, antioxidant indices, and immunity of growing quail, as well as increasing counts of lactic acid bacteria and reducing pathogenic bacteria.