Effect of turmeric powder and vitamin C supplementation on growth performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Introduction

Poultry production is a vital component of livestock farming, making a significant contribution to human food supply. In recent years, poultry products have gained popularity as a preferred source of protein among the non-vegetarian population. According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), the total poultry population in India stood at 851.81 million, marking a 16.8% increase compared to the previous census. Of this, backyard poultry accounted for 317.07 million, showing a remarkable growth of 45.8%, while commercial poultry numbered 534.74 million, reflecting a 4.5% increase over the previous census. Quail, commonly known as "Batter" in India, belong to the pheasant family and are part of the order Galliformes, family Phasianidae, genus Coturnix and species japonica. The two main species found in India are the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and the black-breasted quail (Coturnix coromandelica). Quail are small body size (average 120-150 g), fast-growing birds widely used in egg and meat production. They are hardy, adaptable to diverse climates and reach sexual maturity early, usually within 6-7 weeks. Their high egg-laying capacity, efficient feed conversion and resistance for many diseases, often referred to as backyard poultry and like other domesticated animals, they originated from the wild. The domestication of quail began in Japan in 1595 and there are now over 50 species of quail worldwide, with around 70 breeds of domestic quail. In India, quail farming started in 1974 at Izatnagar, following the introduction of Japanese quail from California. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family, possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and hypocholesterolemic properties. Its key bioactive compound, curcumin, improves digestion, immunity and reduces inflammation, while turmeric itself provides protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin B6, iron, potassium and magnesium. In quails, supplementation with nano-curcumin enhanced growth, carcass yield, lipid profile, antioxidant status and immunity, while reducing pathogenic bacteria (Reda et al. 2020) [16] . It is also reported that turmeric improves digestion and nutrient metabolism (Kilany et al. 2014) [12] . Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) plays a vital role in immune function, health and antioxidant defense. For Japanese quails, vitamin C supplementation is particularly beneficial boosts immunity and improves overall health. Additionally, it helps birds cope with environmental and heat stress by reducing oxidative damage. Vitamin C supplement protect hematological parameters, growth performance, antioxidant defense systems and humoral immune parameters (Dosoky et al. 2024) [4] . The supplementation of vitamin C in quail feed leads to an improvement in haematological parameters: erythrocyte count, haemoglobin and haematocrit, the increases being statistically significant (Raduta et al. 2024) [15] .

Materials and Methods

Experimental Site

The experiment was carried out at the Poultry Farm, Department of Animal Production, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. The site is situated in the subhumid southern plain region at a latitude of 24.57°N and longitude of 73.70°E, with an elevation of 598 meters above mean sea level. The climatic data of the last decade indicate a mean maximum temperature of 38.3°C, a mean minimum temperature of 11.6°C and an average annual rainfall of 646.7 mm.

Plan of Work

In the present study, One hundred sixty, day-old Japanese quail chicks of either sex were taken from the hatchery unit of poultry farm, Department of Animal Production, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT. The experimental birds were randomly divided into four treatments with four replications with ten Japanese quail chicks in each replication. All the birds were reared under cage system for six weeks with identical standard management practices. Birds were provided free access to food and water during the entire experimental period.

Experimental details

Housing, feeding and watering management

All chicks were reared under a cage system, maintained within the comfort zone by providing optimum temperature, humidity, ventilation, floor space, lighting, feeders and water as per standard guidelines for better growth. The experimental birds were kept under continuous observation and managed uniformly with identical standard management practices throughout the study period.

Experimental feed and treatments

During the six-week experimental period, Japanese quail chicks were fed a grower ration formulated using Maize, Dicalcium phosphate (DCP), Soybean de-oiled cake (soya DOC), Turmeric powder and Vitamin C. Four different experimental diets were prepared for the Japanese quail, assigned to separate dietary treatment groups. The treatments included basal diet T1 (Control) feeding without Turmeric powder and Vitamin C, T2 (T1 +Turmeric powder @ 0.5%), T3 (T1 +Vitamin C 300mg/kg) and T4 (T1 +Turmeric Powder @ 0.5% +Vitamin C 300mg/kg). Table-1clearly diffracts the characteristics of experimental feed in various treatments groups.

Statistical Analysis

The research was carried out in completely randomized design (CRD) and the data collected for various parameters in the present study were subjected to analysis of variance, as per the procedure prescribed by Snedecor and Cochran (1994) [20] .

Results and Discussion

Mean values of weekly live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR used to determine the effects of different level of turmeric powder and vitamin c supplementation on the growth performance Japanese quail are presented in the Table-3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The data on weekly feed intake (Table -3) of Japanese quail the overall feed intake from the 1st to the 6th week of age ranged from 440.25±0.45 g to 467.37±10.76 g per chick across the different treatment groups. The highest total feed intake was observed in T4 (467.37±10.76 g), followed by T2 (446.39±0.22 g) and T3 (444.46±0.06 g), while T1 (440.25±0.45 g) showed the lowest intake. However, the difference in feed intake between T2 and T4 was nonsignificant.

The results of the present study are consistent with the effect of turmeric powder supplementation on feed intake in Japanese quail. Eko et al. (2020) [5] who reported that four dietary levels of turmeric powder (0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5%, denoted as T1-T4) were evaluated for their effect on feed intake. The highest feed intake was observed in birds fed 1.5% turmeric powder (T2). These results suggest that moderate inclusion of turmeric powder optimizes feed intake and can be effectively used as a natural feed additive in broiler diets. Feed intake of Japanese quail was significantly improved in birds supplemented with 130 mg/kg vitamin C compared to both the control and higher supplementation groups. This finding is consistent with Sahin and Kucuk (2001) [17] , who reported that dietary supplementation of vitamin C enhanced feed intake and nutrient digestibility in Japanese quails under chronic heat stress. Similarly, Kutlu and Forbes (1993) [13] observed that broiler chicks under heat stress self-selected diets containing higher levels of ascorbic acid, highlighting the role of vitamin C in alleviating stress-induced appetite suppression. In addition, Elagib and Omer (2012) [6] reported that vitamin C supplementation in broiler diets improved feed intake by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing metabolic efficiency The overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) recorded from the 1st to the 6th week of age was 2.34±0.003, 2.29±0.001, 2.24±0.003 and 2.31±0.05 in T1, T2, T3 and T4. The highest FCR was observed in the T1 group, followed by T4 and T2, while the T3 group showed a significantly lower FCR compared to the others. However, the difference in FCR between T1 and T4 was found to be non-significant. The results of the present study are consistent with the effects of herbal additives on feed efficiency in Japanese quail. Suwarta et al. (2018) [21] reported that a mixture of turmeric powder and cinnamon at graded levels T1 (control), T2 (10+10 g/kg), T3 (20+20 g/kg) and T4 (40+40 g/kg) resulted in a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio in all supplemented groups compared with the control. The highest improvement in FCR was observed at the highest inclusion level (40 g turmeric + 40 g cinnamon/kg feed) indicating that dietary supplementation with this herbal mixture can enhance nutrient utilization efficiency in quail. Similarly, Choudhury et al. (2018) [3] who reported the feed conversion ratio improved with the inclusion of 0.75% turmeric powder in the diet. Hossen et al. (2018) [9] also reported that quails receiving 2.5% turmeric paste exhibited significantly better FCR compared to controls, reinforcing the positive effect of turmeric on feed efficiency. Al-Muhammadawi et al. (2022) [1] who reported that turmeric powder supplementation can enhance feed efficiency in broiler chickens. The inclusion of turmeric powder at levels of 0.3% to 1.8% has been shown to improve feed conversion ratio (FCR), indicating more efficient utilization of nutrients. Improved FCR with turmeric powder supplementation suggests its role as a natural feed additive that promotes better metabolic efficiency. Overall, turmeric powder appears to support poultry production by enhancing feed utilization without adverse effects on bird health. Quails supplemented with 300 mg/kg vitamin C achieved the best FCR in the present study, suggesting improved efficiency of feed utilization. Similar improvements have been reported by Gursu et al. (2004) [8] in poultry under intensive production systems, as well as by Elagib and Omer (2012) [6] , who found that moderate vitamin C supplementation improved FCR compared to non-supplemented groups. However, higher doses (260-520 mg/kg) were less effective, indicating diminishing returns beyond the optimum level. In the present study, the body weight of day-old Japanese quail ranged between 8.66±0.13 g and 8.76±0.14 g among the different treatment groups. These differences were small and statistically non-significant. However, as the Japanese quail aged, their body weight increased progressively in all treatment groups. From the 1st to the 6th week of age, significant differences in body weight were observed among the different treatments.

At the 6th week of age, the mean body weights of Japanese quail were recorded as 196.55±0.12, 207.59±0.08, 202.61±0.10 and 210.70±0.15 g in T1, T2, T3 and T4. The overall body weight gain from day-old to the 6th week was 187.89±0.02 g, 198.88±0. 21, 193.97±0.12 and 201.94±0.22 g in T1, T2, T3 and T4. Among the treatment groups, the T4 (210.70±0.15 g) group showed a significantly higher final body weight, followed by T2 (207.59±0.08 g), T3 (202.61±0.10 g) and the lowest in T1 (196.55±0.12 g).

Similarly, the overall body weight gain was significantly highest in T4 (201.94±0.22 g), followed by T2 (198.88±0.21 g) and T3 (193.97±0.12 g), with the lowest gain observed in the T1 (187.89±0.02 g) group.

In the present trial, supplementation of 1.0% cinnamon and 1.0% turmeric powder significantly increased body weight and body weight gain in broiler chickens. These results are consistent with the findings of Khan et al. (2025) [10] , who reported that dietary inclusion of cinnamon powder and turmeric powder enhanced weight gain due to improved diet palatability. Similarly, Al-Sanjary et al. (2023) [2] who reported the body weight gain with the inclusion of 0.05% turmeric powder and vitamin C 300mg in the diet. Overall, the present findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation of 0.05, 1.0% turmeric powder and vitamin C 300mg can enhance growth performance in broiler chickens, supporting the potential of these phytogenic additives as natural growth promoters and health enhancers in poultry production systems. Maulod et al. (2022) [14] also reported that dietary turmeric (5 g/kg), alone or in combination with ginger, significantly increased live body weight and body weight gain. In the present study, vitamin C supplementation at 600 mg/kg did not significantly affect carcass traits or blood cortisol levels, although improvements in weight gain were recorded. These findings are comparable to Sahin et al. (2002) [18] , who reported that vitamin C supplementation improved growth in poultry. Taken together, the results indicate that turmeric and vitamin C supplementation can enhance growth performance in Japanese quail, though effects may vary depending on the level of inclusion and physiological conditions. Furthermore, turmeric supplementation in our trial demonstrated beneficial effects on growth performance, which are in line with Emadi and Kermanshahi (2007) [7] , who found that turmeric powder improved growth in broilers. Body weight and weight gain were significantly higher in quails supplemented with 130 mg/kg vitamin C compared to both the control and higher-dose groups. This is consistent with Khan et al. (2012) [11] , who observed that moderate vitamin C supplementation supported growth by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing nutrient absorption. In contrast, higher doses (260-520 mg/kg) failed to improve growth, possibly due to metabolic imbalances, which agree with Sahin et al. (2002) [18] , who noted that excessive supplementation may impair performance. Similar observations were made by Sahin and Kucuk (2001) [17] and Gursu et al. (2004) [8] , who reported improved growth performance in Japanese quails receiving moderate vitamin C supplementation under heat stress.

Conclusion

Supplementation of turmeric powder and vitamin C proved beneficial for Japanese quail rearing, showing positive effects on growth performance. The better overall performance and economic returns were observed in birds supplemented with 0.5% turmeric powder + 300 mg/kg vitamin C (T4), followed by 0.5% turmeric powder (T2), 300 mg/kg vitamin C (T3) and control group (T1). Supplementation of 0.5% turmeric powder and 0.5% turmeric powder + 300 mg/kg vitamin C in the diet of Japanese quail up to 6 weeks of age resulted in higher total feed consumption and improved feed conversion ratio. In Japanese quail, dietary inclusion of 0.5% turmeric powder and 0.5% turmeric powder + 300 mg/kg vitamin C also led to increased body weight and weight gain.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentsThe authors express their gratitude to Dr. J.L. Choudhary, Dr. Siddhartha Mishra, Dr. Ram Hari Meena and Ashok Dindor who made his immense contribution in my research work.

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