Effects of orange peel powder on performance and egg quality parameters of laying Japanese Quail

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Çimen Ö., Firmcıoğlu S. Y., KUTLU H. R.

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, cilt.77, sa.2, ss.10485-10498, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

This research was conducted to determine the effects of adding different doses (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) of Jafa orange peel powder (OPP) to the diets of laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) on their laying performance and egg quality parameters. A total of 160 quail were used in four treatment groups with five replications, each containing 6 females and 2 males. While the effect of OPP supplementation on feed intake (FI) was significant at week 4 (P<0.05), the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not improved in the 1% and 2% OPP-supplemented groups as feed intake increased. No significant differences were found between groups in terms of egg weight, eggshell breaking strength, shape index, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, or shell thickness (P>0.05). Significant differences were observed in shell weight and egg yolk density at week 2 and in shell thickness and yolk weight at week 4 (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that the addition of OPP to Japanese quail diets at doses of 1 and 2% resulted in a quadratic increase in FI during weeks 3 and 4. However, this addition did not result in a significant improvement in FCR or the quality of internal or external egg parameters.