Effect of dietary yeast autolysate on performance, slaughter, and carcass characteristics, as well as blood parameters, in quail of both genders

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary yeast autolysate (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics, as well as blood parameters, in Japanese quail of both genders. A total of 1000 (500 males and 500 females) one-day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly allocated to one control group and four dietary groups (supplemented with 1, 2, 3, and 4% yeast autolysate) per gender, each containing 100 quail. Each dietary group was then divided into five replicate groups of 20 chicks. During the study (from 1st to 42nd day), quails fed dietary treatments supplemented with yeast autolysate had higher live bodyweight (LBW) and average daily live weight gain (ADG) than the control group, and the dietary supplementation of 2% yeast autolysate reduced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) for both genders. The highest carcass yield was observed in trial 1% in male quail (P <0.01), and the control of female (P <0.05). The lowest abdominal fat percentage was observed in trial 1% and 2% of male (P <0.05), and trials 2% and 3% in female quail (P <0.01). The highest breast percentage was observed in the trial 2% of female quail. Cholesterol was significantly lower in trial 2% of male (P <0.001) on day 42. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P <0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P <0.001) and albumin (ALB) (P <0.05) concentrations in male quail were statistically different among the groups on day 42. In general, good performance and reduced abdominal fat percentage and cholesterol level were observed in the group supplemented with 2% yeast autolysate. In this study, it was concluded that the addition of 2% yeast autolysate to diet could be used as a performance enhancer for quail in the first 42 days of life.Keywords: Carcass attributes, carcass percentages, growth, se