EFFECT OF THE PROPOLIS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF GROWING QUAIL.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of propolis extract supplementation at various doses (0.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 ml propolis/kg of diet) to the diet and it was investigated that its effects on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, mortality and carcass weight characteristics in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japanica) Japanese quail (n=120, from hatch to 35d age) were randomly divided into seven groups, six treatments and control. Control group was fed a basal diet while the treatment diets were supplemented with different propolis concentrations. There was a significant negative effect of different propolis doses on weight gain (p=0.05, linear). There were no effects of propolis doses on overall liver and gizzard weight. All doses of propolis had significant affect 35th day carcass weight (p<0.05). The findings of this study revealed that propolis has not beneficial effect on performance characteristics in quail diets during first weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]