Effect of Dietary Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) Seeds on Productive Performance, Yolk Fatty Acids Profile, Serum Lipoproteins and Egg Quality in Japanese Quails

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of purslane and garden cress seeds on productive performance, yolk fatty acids profile, blood biochemical parameters and egg quality in Japanese quails. A total of 150 one-day-old quail chicks were randomly assigned to five experimental groups with six replicates including a control diet (without inclusion of remedies) and the diets containing 50 or 100 g/kg either purslane seeds or garden cress for 84 days. egardless of the inclusion level, dietary purslane and garden cress seeds decreased egg mass production compared to the control group (P < 0.05). All experimental treatments reduced yolk cholesterol compared with the control birds, where the diets containing 100 g/kg purslane seed or garden cress were more effective. Feeding birds with a diet containing 100 g/kg purslane seed reduced yolk percentage compared to the other diets (P < 0.05). Birds fed with the diet containing 100 g/kg garden cress showed an increased yolk concentration of mono- (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a decreased omega-6 fatty acids as well as omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (n-6/n-3; P < 0.05). The diet containing 100 g/kg purslane seed increased yolk concentration of PUFA and omega-6 fatty acids (P < 0.05). The birds fed diet fortified with 50 g/kg garden cress decreased PUFA concentration of yolk (P < 0.05). A greater omega-3 fatty acids concentration of yolk was found in the birds maintained on the diet containing 100 g/kg garden cress while a lesser level was exhibited in those fed on the diet with 100 mg/kg of the same additive. Serum triglyceride concentration was increased in the birds receiving the diet with 100 g/kg purslane (P < 0.05). The diets containing garden cress increased the serum activity of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme (P < 0.05). Shell ratio, egg-specific weight and yolk ratio were significantly reduced in the birds fed on the diet with 50 g/kg garden cress (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the inclusion of 100 g/kg purslane in the diet decreased eggshell weight, egg-specific weight, shape index, shell thickness and yolk ratio (P < 0.05). Dietary purslane seeds may improve egg quality through a reduced yolk concentration of cholesterol in quail eggs. An improved fatty acid profile, an elevated omega-3 fatty acid, and a healthier n-6/n-3 ratio was observed, particularly with the diet containing 100 g/kg garden cress.