Effect of Adding Lycium barbarum Extract to Drinking Water on Some Physiological Characteristics of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

摘要

This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding Lycium barbarum extract to drinking water on some physiological characteristics of Japanese quail. A total of 270 one-week-old Japanese quails was used in this study. The birds were divided into six treatments (45 for each). Each liter of drinking water was treated with 400 mg of Lycium barbarum extract add from (leaves, fruits, stems, and roots) for T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively. 400 mg of mixed extract from leaves, fruits, stems and roots of Lycium barbarum were added to drinking water (T6). The control treatment (Tl) was without of Lycium barbarum drinking water. The results showed a significant decrease (P< 0.05) in the age of sexual puberty and maturity for males and females were recorded in third treatment compared to control. On the other hand, the results showed no significant differences between the experimental treatments for the weight at sexual puberty and maturity for males and females. The results showed a significantly increase (P< 0.05) in the relative weight of testes, sperm viability %, and individual motility% in third treatment compared to the control. Also, the results showed a significant decrease (P< 0.05) in dead sperm % and abnormality % were recorded in the third treatment compared to the control. It can be concluded that the fruits of Lycium barbarum extract improved the vitality of sperms and reproductive characteristics of Japanese quail.