EFFECT OF PARSLEY SEEDS (Petroselinum crispum) AS FEED ADDITIVE ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN JAPANESE LAYING QUAILS

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Animal farm, department of Animal Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Tikrit during the period from 11 March,2014 to 11 May,2014 to investigate the effect of adding Parsley seeds (Petroselinum crispum) in the diets on feed consumption, feed efficiency and egg production in the performance of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Ninety six laying quails (72 females and 24 males) at 48 weeks of age were reared in cages and randomly allocated with 4 dietary treatments one was the control group (without any additives) (T1); the others were (0.5 %, 1.0 % and 1.5 % parsley) added to (T2, T3 and T4) respectively, each group consist of 24 birds and divided to 3 Replicates (8 birds). Water and feed were provided ad libitum during the experimental period. There were no significant difference in egg weight and feed efficiency among the groups while there were significant in hen day egg production (H.D %), total cumulative egg number, egg mass and feed consumption due to parsley seeds in quail compared with control. Concluded from this study that use of parsley to improve productive performance of Japanese quails.