Onion (Allium cepa) and Sumac (Rhus coriaria) Powder as Dietary Supplements for Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica): Effect on Egg Production, Blood Parameters and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of onion (Allium cepa L.) and sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) powder on egg production, antioxidant and physiological parameters of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1849). A total of 2500 quails were used in this study. The quails were randomly assigned into five groups (15 quails/replicate) and all birds were fed and watered ad libitum throughout the assay. The control group (D1) received a basal diet, whereas the treated groups received 5 g/kg (D2) and 10 g/kg (D3) onion powder as a supplement to the basal diet, and 5 g/kg (D4) and 10 g/kg (D5) of sumac powder as a supplement to the diet. We demonstrated that the supplementation of diets with onion or sumac powder significantly improved quails’ egg production, the activity levels of ALT, AST and GSH, and a decrease in MDA level compared to the control. Based on the results, we concluded that dietary supplementation of onion and sumac powder can be appropriate to feed the quails and improve egg production, antioxidant enzyme activity, and serum cholesterol levels.