Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Nano Zinc on Performance, Egg Characteristics, Sperm Quality and Hatching Parameters in Breeding Quails

In this study, the effects of requirement level (60 mg/kg) of nano zinc supplementation (46 mg/kg) of breeding quail rations on egg production, weight gain, egg quality characteristics, sperm quality, hatching parameters and liver were determined. 10 week old quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were divided into two groups: control and experiment with 10 replicates were formed under each group that having one male four female in each, a total of 100 (20 male and 80 female) quails were used in the study. At the end of 10 weeks trial period, supplementation of nano zinc does not have any significant effect on weight gain, feed consumption and egg production. In terms of egg quality characteristics, it was seen that the addition of nano zinc had a significantly decrease on egg yolk color (P<0.001) and the other parameters were not affected. Sperm morphological abnormality rates were observed similar to each other, and in the control and treatment group, they were detected as 32.2% and 30.0% respectively. It was revealed that the nano zinc was positively influenced on the fertility rate, but the effect on the hatchability was found lower and early embryonic mortality rate was found higher (P<0.05) than control group. Histopathologic evaluation of the liver revealed that there was severe lipoidosis in the liver in the nano zinc supplemented group. As a result; nano zinc oxide addition at the recommended level had no effect on performance, but had negative effects on liver, egg yolk color, hatching and early embryonic mortality rate.