The Effect of Green Tea ( Camellia sinensis ) Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Selected Hematological Indices, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality Parameters of Jumbo Quail

Steve Kgotlelelo Mahlake, Caven Mguvane Mnisi, Cornelia Lebopa and Cebisa Kumanda
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Steve Kgotlelelo Mahlake: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Mafikeng 2745, South Africa
Caven Mguvane Mnisi: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Mafikeng 2745, South Africa
Cornelia Lebopa: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Mafikeng 2745, South Africa
Cebisa Kumanda: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Green tea leaves contain a wide range of active bio-compounds that are essential for sustainable quail intensification; however, its feed value is not known for the Jumbo quail. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of different levels of green tea leaf powder (GTLP) on physiological and meat quality parameters of the Jumbo quail. One-week-old chicks ( n = 350; 56.1 ± 2.12 g live-weight) were evenly distributed to 35 replicate pens and reared on five experimental diets formulated as follows: a standard grower diet with zinc-bacitracin (PosCon), a standard grower diet without zinc-bacitracin (NegCon), and NegCon diet treated with 10 (GT10), 25 (GT25) and 50 g/kg (GT50) of GTLP. Weight gain linearly decreased in week 2 but increased in week 4, whereas feed conversion efficiency linearly declined in weeks 2 and 3 as GTLP levels increased. Overall feed intake, carcass yield, and caecum and colon weights showed a linear increase with GTLP levels. Hematological parameters fell within the normal ranges reported for healthy quail. The GT10 group showed larger liver weights than the PosCon and NegCon groups. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of GTLP enhances overall feed intake and carcass performance but not feed efficiency, hematological and meat quality parameters of Jumbo quail.

Keywords: Coturnix coturnix; feed additives; meat quality; physiological responses; phytogenic plants; sustainable intensification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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