Effect of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds or black cumin oil addition to Japanese quail diets on growth performance, carcass traits and some blood parameters

This study was conducted to determine effects of black cumin seeds or black cumin oil addition to quail rations on growth performance, carcass traits and some blood parameters. Totally 180 daily Japanese quail chicks were used. Chicks allocated four main groups each containing 45 chicks, and each main group divided into three subgroups each containing 15 chicks. A group was fed with basal starter diet for 1-21th days and grower diet for 22-35th days (Control). Other groups were fed same diets but their diet added by 0.1% oxytetracycline (Positive control: PC), 1% black cumin seed (BCS) or 0.1% black cumin oil (BCO). At last of study 15 chicks from each main group were slaughtered for determination of carcass traits and blood serum parameters. Final average live weight of quails in PC and BCS groups were significantly higher than C group. There were no differences on live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio among the groups on basis of whole study period. Carcass weight was lower in C group than the other groups, while there were no differences on carcass yield, leg, breast and wing ratio among the groups. Serum cholesterol concentration in BCO group was significantly lower than C group but there were no differences on Ca, P, VLDL, HDL, LDL, ALT, ALP, albumin, globulin, total protein concentrations among the groups. In conclusion, it was established that, as being in antibiotic added groups, addition of 1% black cumin seed to quail diet enhanced live weight, and 0.1% black cumin oil had showed hypocholesterolemic affect.