Dietary Black Seed and L-Carnitine Supplements to Mitigate Heat Stress in Laying Japanese Quails: Effects on Egg Quality and Organ Morphology

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Livestock and Poultry Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of animal science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran-Iran,

3 Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Tehran-Iran

Abstract

Background: Heat stress negatively impacts egg production and health in quails, prompting research on dietary supplements like black seed and L-carnitine for their potential to alleviate these effects and improve performance.
Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of black seed, L-carnitine, and their combination on egg production, intestinal and magnum morphology in laying Japanese quails under normal and heat stress conditions, with additional assessment of vitamin E supplementation.
Methods: Five hundred laying Japanese quails were divided into two temperature groups (normal and heat stress) and five dietary treatments (control, black seed, L-carnitine, black seed+L-carnitine, and vitamin E) in a 2×5 factorial design. The experiment consisted of acclimation (two weeks), heat exposure (five weeks), and recovery (three weeks). Egg production and intestinal and magnum morphology were measured throughout.
Results: During heat stress, control and black seed diets resulted in higher Haugh unit values, while the black seed + L-carnitine diet increased yolk percentage. Vitamin E improved eggshell strength under normal conditions, and after recovery, both vitamin E and black seed + L-carnitine diets produced stronger eggshells (P<0.05). Black seed + L-carnitine reduced the villus length-to-crypt depth ratio compared to control. Vitamin E under heat stress and black seed + L-carnitine under normal conditions increased magnum fold height, while control diet in heat stress had the lowest fold thickness. Vitamin E enhanced epithelial height under normal temperatures and reduced magnum gland diameter (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Black seed and vitamin E improved egg quality (Haugh unit, shell strength), while black seed + L-carnitine had mixed effects on morphology depending on temperature. Dietary strategies can optimize laying Japanese quails performance under varying conditions.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 12 August 2025

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