Evaluation of Performance, Egg Quality and Hatchability Using Salvia Indica Supplementations under Stocking Density of Local Quails

The study was carried out to investigate the influence of virous levels of Salvia indica supplementation under high stocking density on bird’s performance, egg qualities, biochemical parameters, and hatchability of local quail’s (Coturnix coturnix). Accordingly, 99 eight-week-old quails were randomly distributed into five treatments with three replicates for each, including negative control (five birds/replicate), positive control (seven birds/replicate), and three groups supplemented by 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% Salvia indica under the same density (seven birds/replicate) for eight weeks. The achieved results showed that the supplemented Salvia indica significantly increased (P<0.05) egg weight and egg mass without a significant effect on total egg production. The 0.3% Salvia indica recorded the highest values (12.04 g and 10.53 g, respectively). Treatments did not impact either feed intake or feed conversion ratio. Biochemical analyses showed that the Salvia indica has significantly impacted the lipid profiles through increasing the levels of triglycerides, decreasing LDL while keeping blood glucose unchanged. Hatchability was improved considerably (P<0.05) in groups supplemented by Salvia indica and reached 93.3% and 81.7% compared with the negative control. Salvia indica increased albumen weight and egg surface area without changes in shell thickness or any parameter of yolk, according to the egg quality traits. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between egg weight and either albumen or yolk weights. In brief, supplementing Salvia indica, at the rate of 0.3%, enhanced hatchability, lipid metabolism, and egg quality traits without depressing productivity in local quails. Thus, Salvia indica may be incorporated as a natural additive into the quail diets under high stocking density conditions to enhance its performance and economic efficiency.