Abstract: The current trial was carried out to determine the effects of humic acid at different levels on body weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency, carcass yield, heart weight and some biochemical parameters of quails. A total of 260 Japanese quails, seven day old were randomly assigned to one control and three experimental groups. The experimental period lasted five weeks. The quails were fed with a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 360, 480 and 600 mg kg-1 humic acid . Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio were positively influenced (p<0.01) by humic acid (480 mg kg-1) supplementation at the growing period. Difference among the groups in terms of carcass yields, heart weight and biochemical parameters such as phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, total protein, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL were not statistically significant. Calcium levels were significantly increased in the experimental groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). As a result; dietary humic acid supplementation during growing period at dose rate of 480 mg kg-1 feed can be used to improve body weight gainand feed efficiency.
M. Avci , N. Denek and O. Kaplan , 2007. Effects of Humic Acid at Different Levels on Growth Performance, Carcass Yields and Some Biochemical Parameters of Quails. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1-4.