The current study was conducted to determine the effect of adding black cumin (Nigella sativa) powder (BCP) to the Japanese quail diet on the carcass characteristics and meat quality. In this research, 240 Japanese quail chicks (mean initial body weight 9.15 ± 0.12) were divided into four groups of four replications each. Treatments consisted of the addition of BCP at levels 1, 2, and 4% to the mixed feed and control group without the BCP additive. Compared to the other groups, the group with the 2% BCP diet had a higher live weight (LW), body weight gain (BWG), and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR, p < 0.05). BCP administration had no impact on the carcass characteristics, however, BCP had a significant effect on the thigh and breast meat. The animal study protocol was approved by the Niğde Governorship, Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkey (protocol code: E-15018773-050.01.04-75932 and date of approval: 26 April 2021) for studies involving animals. Lower thiobarbituric acid (TBA), pH, peroxide, and total psychrophilic bacteria levels were found in the BCP added groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). When compared with the control, the sensory properties such as color, juiciness, softness, and flavor were significantly higher in the BCP treated groups, especially when fed the 2% BCP diet. It can be concluded that BCP as an additive to quail feeds had a significant effect on the performance of quails as well as on the shelf life of the meat. In order to avoid health and environmental concerns, it was concluded that BCP can be used as a natural additive to replace synthetic antimicrobials and antioxidants at the level of 1–2% in quail compound feeds.

This research was conducted to determine the effect of quinoa seed (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) extract on the performance, carcass parameters, and meat quality in Japanese quails. In this study, 400 quail chicks were divided into a control group (without quinoa seed extract addition) and 3 experiment groups (4 replicates containing 25 quails in each). Commercial feed and the addition of different concentrations of quinoa seed extract (QSE) 0.1 g/kg, 0.2 g/kg, and 0.4 g/kg were used in the study. During the second week of the experiment, the highest feed intake was obtained from the supplemented groups (p < 0.01). After 5 weeks of experimentation, the highest feed consumption was noticed in the group with 0.4 g of QSE additive. The QSE additive affected the live weight gain values of all experimental groups during 1 week of the experiment. The highest values of hot carcass weight were noticed in groups with 0.2 and 0.4 g of QSE additive (p < 0.01). While the highest value of cold carcass weight was noticed in a group with 0.2 g of QSE additive (p < 0.05). Thigh, breast, back and neck ratio, and internal organs (except gizzard) were not affected by the supplementation of QSE. As a result of storage of breast meat at 4 °C for 0, 1 days, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days, it was determined that the number of pH, thiobarbituric acid, peroxide, and total psychrophilic bacteria were lower in the groups with QSE as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the best results of quail performance were obtained with 0.2 g/kg and 0.4 g QSE/kg of the quail’s fodder. While the addition of 0.4 g QSE/kg of the quail’s fodder had a significant effect on meat shelf life and could be used in poultry mixed feed to prevent or delay lipid oxidation of meat.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary addition of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) powder on the growth performance, meat quality, oxidative stability and cold storage quality of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). In this research, 480 quail chicks were divided into four experimental groups, and each experimental group was composed of four replicates, each containing 30 quail chicks. Commercial feed was used in the study, but BBP was added to the feed at levels of 0%, 1%, 2% and 4%. Results showed that dietary addition of blueberry powder did not affect body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05). No significant difference was observed between hot and cold carcass weights and carcass yield among carcass parameters (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were found among the blueberry-supplemented groups in terms of thigh, back and neck ratios (p < 0.05). In this study, it was determined that thiobarbituric acid (TBA), pH and peroxide values in breast meat samples kept at +4 °C for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days were lower in the blueberry-supplemented groups compared to the control group and these values decreased linearly as the supplement level increased (p < 0.05). The addition of blueberries to the quail diets resulted in similar L, a and b values in breast and thigh meat and skin among the groups (p > 0.05) except for the b value in thigh meat (p < 0.05). The findings obtained in this study revealed that although adding blueberries to the quail diet did not have a significant effect on performance, the antioxidant activity and phenolic substance content of the plant had a significant effect on increasing the shelf life of meat. It was concluded that blueberry could be used as a natural additive that may replace synthetic antioxidants.

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with grape pomace powder (GP) on the performance, egg quality and hatchability, and blood biochemistry of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 200 quails (323.90 ± 1.991 g body weight) were randomly divided into four treatment groups, with five replicates of ten birds each. The treatments involved dietary supplementation with GP at 0% (0GP), 1% (1GP), 2% (2GP), and 4% (4GP) of the basal diet for eight weeks. The results indicated that GP significantly affected feed intake, egg production, and egg weight. The 1GP and 2GP treatments had higher egg production and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the other treatments. The lowest egg production and poorest FCR in the study were in the 4GP group. Feed intakes and egg weights were lower in the supplemented groups than in the 0GP group. The 1GP, 2GP, and 4GP groups had higher eggshell breaking strength, Haugh unit, and egg albumen index values than the 0GP group. Plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in all GP-supplemented groups were lower than in the 0GP quails. The effects of GP supplementation on chick live weight and early embryonic mortality were significant, with GP supplementation considerably reducing early embryonic deaths compared to the 0GP group. In conclusion, this study showed that adding up to 2% GP to quails’ diets had no negative effects on live performance, improved some egg quality traits, decreased early embryonic deaths, and may have helped reduce total lipid and cholesterol levels.