Use of Aspergillus japonicas culture filtrate as a feed additive in quail breeder’s nutrition

Abstract

This study was carried out to study the beneficial role of organic acids and other beneficial compounds produced by Aspergillus japonicas and their effects on the egg production, egg quality, fertility, and hatchability as well as blood metabolites of quail breeders. A number of 150 mature 8-week of age Japanese quails (100 females and 50 males) were used and divided into 5 groups. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4^th, and 5th groups were fed basal diet with 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 ml Aspergillus japonicas culture filtrate/kg diet, respectively. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate improved egg number, egg mass and feed conversion ratio when compared to control. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate quadratically improved feed conversion ratio when compared to control at all ages. Quail breeders fed 2 and 3 ml Aspergillus japonicas filtrate-treated diets consumed less feed than the other diets (0, 1, or 4 ml) during 8–12 week-old and the overall period. Supplementation of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets improved fertility percentage during 12–16 and 8–16 week of age, the best level was 2 ml/kg of filtrate. Addition of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets reduced the shell percentage and shell thickness, but increased the Haugh unit. The use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate in quail breeder’s diets tended to decline total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL in plasma. Inclusion of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate in the diets of quail breeders improved the immune parameters. The activity of SOD and TAC was higher in Aspergillus japonicas filtrate groups than the control. In conclusion, supplemental Aspergillus japonicas filtrate could improve productive and reproductive performance, lipid profile, immunity, and antioxidant indices.

Highlights

• Use of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved egg production and egg mass.

• Use of Aspergillus japonicas filtrate to quail diets improved fertility percentage

• Use of Aspergillus filtrate in quail diets improved immunity and antioxidant indices

• Dietary addition of Aspergillus filtrate improved lipid profile.

Keywords:

• Aspergillus japonicas
• quail
• production
• reproduction
• nutrition
• antioxidant

Ethical approval

Animal care and maintenance were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Egyptian Research Ethics Committee and the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (2011).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).