Effect of safflower oil supplementation in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) diets on growth performance, blood antioxidant status, caecal short-chain fatty acid content, and biomechanical properties of bones

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of safflower oil supplementation in quail diets on growth performance, blood antioxidant status, caecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and tibia–femur biomechanical properties. A total of 180 one-day-old quail chicks were randomly divided into three groups, each containing 60 chicks. Each group was randomly divided into six subgroups, each containing 10 chicks. All chicks were fed a diet based on corn and soybean meal. The control group was fed the basal ration and experimental groups were fed the basal ration plus 0.5% and 2% safflower oil. The use of safflower oil in quails did not affect the growth performance parameters. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase exhibited a linear response to the addition of safflower. Ceruloplasmin, albumin, total protein, and globulin were not affected by the addition of safflower oil. Acetic acid and SCFA were linearly associated with safflower oil content. There were no statistical differences in propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric, isocaproic, and caproic acids and BCFA in quails fed different percentages of safflower oil. Feeding a diet containing safflower oil did not affect the biomechanical properties of the tibia and femur in quails. It was concluded that diets containing safflower oil can be used to improve antioxidant status and caecal short-chain fatty acid content in quails. © 2024, South African Journal for Animal Science. All rights reserved.