Effect of garlic (Allium Sativum) powder-supplemented diet on productive performance, immune response, intestinal microbial flora, liver histopathology, and some blood and sperm parameters in male Japanese quail

In this study, the effects of using a garlic powder-supplemented diet on production performance, immune response, intestinal microbial flora, liver histopathology, and some blood, serum, and reproductive parameters in male Japanese quail were investigated. For this purpose, 80 one-day-old quail chicks were divided into 2 experimental groups, 4 replicates, and 10 pieces per replication in a completely randomized design. Experimental groups included basal diet (control) and basal diet + garlic powder 4%. Based on the results, garlic powder increased feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The highest antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus and SRBC was recorded in the secondary titer in the experimental group containing garlic. Feeding garlic powder reduced the population of Escherichia coli and increased the population of Lactobacillus (P<0.05). The results showed that the garlic powder caused a significant increase in hematocrit, MCV, and differential lymphocyte and heterophil count (P<0.05). Cholesterol and glucose concentrations were significantly reduced in the garlic powder-receiving quails (P<0.05). Also, sperm parameters such as acrosome integrity, viability, and daily sperm production improved significantly in birds fed garlic powder (P <0.05). It seems that adding garlic powder can improve production and reproductive performance of Japanese quail.