EFFECTS OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE, THEPAX AND THEIR COMBINATION ON BLOOD ENZYMES AND PERFORMANCE OF JAPANESE QUAILS (C OTURNIX JAPONICA) - H. Nikpiran; T. Vahdatpour; D. Babazadeh; S. Vahdatpour (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2013)
The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of probiotic, prebiotic and their combination as synbiotic on broiler performance, organs weight and blood enzymes of Japanese Quails. Total of 192 one-day old Japanese quail chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The experimental diets consisted of a basal diet (A) without additive (Control), (B) 2 g/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae (probiotic), (C) 1 g/kg Thepax (prebiotic) and (D) 1 g/kg Saccharomyces cerevisiae+ 0.5 g/kg Thepax (synbiotic) added to the basal diet. Birds fed probiotic and prebiotic showed elevation in body weight compared to other groups (P<0.05). Feed intake of birds fed probiotic and prebiotic were higher than control group (P<0.05). Birds fed on probiotic and prebiotic exhibited a better feed conversion ratio compared to synbiotic fed and control groups (P<0.05). Dressing percentage of birds fed probiotic (74.9±2), prebiotic (76.2±3) and synbiotic (73.7±1) were more than control group (70.1±2) (P<0.05). The both male and female birds fed additives showed decrease in liver weight (P<0.05). The relative weight of heart was decreased in the males fed probiotic and prebiotic compared to synbiotic fed and control groups (P<0.05). The females fed prebiotic showed decrease in heart weight (P<0.05). The activity of ALP in females depressed by prebiotic consumption (P<0.05) whereas in males it was lower in probiotic fed group (P<0.05). AST activity in males fed prebiotic increased (P<0.05). In both genders CPK activity was higher in prebiotic and synbiotic fed groups (P<0.05). Results indicated using probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has positive effects on performance and normal activity of enzymes. Prebiotic (Thepax) has positive effects on performance and reduction weight of heart and liver in Japanese quails. Synbiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae + Thepax) has positive effects on reduction weight of liver in both genders of Japanese quails.
Keywords: journal article; Enzyme; Feed additive; Japanese quail; Performance