The effects of black cumin (Nigella sativa l..) seed on carcass characteristics, kidney oxidant antioxidant levels and ileum histomorphology in Japanese quails

This study aims to determine the effects of supplementation of different level of black cumin seeds (NS) to quail feeds on carcass characteristics, kidney oxidant antioxidant levels, and ileum histomorphology. A total of 432 mixed-gender three days old Japanese quailswere randomly divided into four groups, including 108 animals each and further into 6 replications consisting of 18 chicks. The groups were fed on either a basal diet alone (Control Group) or a basal diet supplemented with NS at rates of 0.5% (NS-0.5 Group), 1% (NS-1 Group), and 2% (NS-2 Group).It was determined that the back+neck weight in the NS-2 group and head weight and ratio in the NS-1 and NS-2 groups decreased. The thigh rate increased in the NS-0.5 group compared to the control and other NS groups. While the wing weight increased in male quails fed with NS-supplemented feed in NS-1 and NS-2 groups compared to the control group, the abdominal fat weight decreased in NS-supplemented groups.Also, the slaughter weight and hot carcass weight in female quails were significantly reduced in the NS-2 group compared to the control group.Kidney glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and male quails' catalase (CAT) values were increased in NS groups compared to the control group. The kidney vitamin C (Vit C) increased only in the NS-2 group compared to the con-trol. In the NS-2 group, the villus height decreased both on a group basis and in female quails, while the villus width decreased only in female quails. Consequently, it was determined that dietary supplementation of NS at rates of 0.5% increased the thigh rate, dietary supplementation at three different level of NS were effective in maintaining the kidney oxidant-antioxidant balance, and the ileum histomorphology did not change except for dietary supplementation of NS at rates of 2%. Therefore, the result of this study can be stated that NS can be used as a natural antioxidant source in the quail diet.