Authors : M. Eren , B. Kocao lu Guclu , F. Uyanik and N. Karabulut
Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of dietary Boron (B) supplementation on performance, carcass traits and serum lipids in quails. Two hundred and eighty, 1-d-old Japanese quails were divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates and were fed a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with 10, 60, 120 or 240 mg kg-1 B until 35 days of age. All levels of B supplementation decreased the weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency of the birds. Boron had no any effect on hot and cold carcass yield and percentage of dry matter of meats. Fat and ash percentages in the carcass were increased in all B supplemented males. In females, 120 mg kg-1 B increased fat percentage while 240 mg kg-1 B increased both fat and ash percentages in the carcass. In all treatment groups, the level of serum triglycerides and total cholesterol decreased. Boron did not have any significant effect on HDL and LDL-cholesterol levels. In conclusion, since all the levels of B in the form of boric acid used in this study adversely affected performance, carcass traits and changed serum lipids, further studies with lower levels of B in the form of boric acid supplementation may be more valuable for the field applications.
M. Eren , B. Kocao lu Guclu , F. Uyanik and N. Karabulut , 2006. The Effects of Dietary Boron Supplementation on Performance, Carcass Composition and Serum Lipids in Japanese Quails. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 1105-1108.