EFFECT OF ADDING THYMUS VULGARIS POWDER TO RATION ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF QUAIL

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Poultry farm of Animal production Dept. College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University in order to investigate the effect of adding Thymus vulgaris Powder to the diets on productive performance and Reproductive for laying quail. One hundred forty four unsexed quail Coturnix coturnix 90 day old were randomly distributed into four treatments with four replicate in each replicate nine birds 6 female and 3 male, The treatments were as follows: first basal diet without addition as (control). Second, third and fourth treatments basal diet and addition of Thymus vulgaris Powder in 0.5, 1, 1.5 % respectively. Feed and water was ad libitum. Statistical analysis of data showed significant improvement (p≤0.05) in total egg number, average egg weight, hen day production, feed conversion ratio(g feed: g eggs) for treatments third and forth as compared with control. Also significant increase in daily and total egg mass in treatments second, third and forth as compared with control. No significant difference in live body weight, average body weight gain, feed consumption , feed conversion ratio (g feed: egg), mortality rate, fertility percentage, hatchability percentage from total and fertile eggs and embryo mortality