The Effect of Added Lemongrass Leaf Powder (Cymbopogon Citratus) to the Diet and Drinking Water on Some Productive, Carcass and Microbial Traits of Japanese Quail

Abstract

This study was conducted at a private field in Al-Radwaniyah area, Baghdad province, from 2/10/2018 to 13/11/2018, for a period of 6 weeks. The study aims to determine the effect of adding different levels of lemongrass leaf powder (Cymbopogon citratus) to diet and drinking water on productive, carcass and microbial traits  of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). A total of 180 quail birds, one day old, were used in the study. The birds were distributed randomly into our treatments, of 45 birds per treatment by three replicates (15 birds per replicate). They were reared in wooden cages (75 x 75 cm). The study treatments were as follows: T1: (comparative treatment) the birds were fed on the main feed without any addition. T2: the birds were fed on the basal diet, with 20 g/ kg diet of lemongrass leaf powder. T3: the birds were fed on basal diet, with 200 ml/  liter of drinking water of aqueous extract of lemongrass leaves. T4: the birds were fed on the basal diet with 10 g/ kg diet of lemongrass leaf powder + the addition of 100 ml/  liter of drinking water of aqueous extract of lemongrass.

The results showed that there were no significant differences among T2, T3 and T3  in total body weight, total weight increase, total feed consumption, total food conversion efficiency and total water consumption. However, significant differences (P≤0.05) between T1 and T4, which did not differ significantly with T2 and T3. Also, there were no significant differences in the dressing percentage among T2, T3 and T4, but it significantly exceeded (P≤0.05) compare with T1. As for the total live weight before slaughter, the total carcass weight, and the numbers of total bacteria in the small intestine, T2, T3 and T4 did not differ. T4 was significantly outperformed on T1. T4 was the best treatment with its mathematical superiority in most of the studied traits. No mortality in all the experimental treatments except for T3 which gave the death of one bird out of a total of (45) birds and T1 gave the death of two birds out of a total of 45 birds. This indicates that lemongrass leaves were better in all treatments compared to control.