Effects of thymol and isoeugenol feed supplementation on quail adult performance, egg characteristics and hatchling success.

LUNA, A.; DAMBOLENA, J. S; ZYGADLO, J. A; MARIN R.H.; LABAQUE M. C.,

BRITISH POULTRY SCIENCE

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Año: 2012

0007-1668

1. A study was conducted to evaluate whether the feed supplementation with thymol or isoeugenol can alter Japanese quail growth rate and final body weight, the female onset of puberty, hen-day-egg production and the physical and chemical characteristics of the egg, as well as its potential alteration of their offspring hatchability. 2. From 4 to 16 weeks of age, birds from each cage (1 male: 3 females) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments that differed in the supplement added to the feed: control, thymol or isoeugenol (400 mg/kg). The average ages (days) at first egg lay (FIRST), at 25% egg production (A25% EP), at 50% egg production (A50% EP) and weekly and cumulative hen-day egg production (HDEP) were calculated. In addition, physical and chemical characteristics of the eggs, their fertility and hatchability were also evaluated for each group. 3. Feed supplementation did not significantly affect growth rate, final body weight, egg production parameters, fertility and physical characteristics of egg or most of the fatty acid components of the egg´s yolk. 4. The group treated with isoeugenol showed an increase in the percentage of palmitoleic fatty acid compared to the control, with thymol group showing intermediates values. 5. Both thymol and isoeugenol supplemented groups reached an increased number of hatchlings of 18.8 % and 11.8 %, respectively compared to their control counterparts. 6. The improvement in the hatchling success of the eggs from the thymol and isoeugenol supplemented groups without a negative impact on their performance may have important economic implications for future breeding programs, particularly if these effects generalize from quail to other more commercially important poultry species, like chickens or turkeys.