Effects of Different Levels of Tomato Powder with and without Addition of Enzymes on Performance, Blood Parameters and Antioxidant Status of Japanese Quails

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of tomato powder (0, 4, 8 and 12%) and multi-enzyme Natuzyme-plus (0 and 0.05%) on performance, blood parameters and antioxidant status of Japanese quails during starter and growth periods. A total of 320 one day old chicks were used in 8 treatments with 4 replicates and 10 birds per experimental unit in a completely randomized design with 4×2 factorial arrangement. The results showed that the addition of different levels of tomato powder increased the feed intake (p<0.05) so that the increase in the treatment fed with 12% tomato powder was higher than other treatments. The interaction of tomato powder and Natuzyme enzyme was significant on weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p <0.05) and the treatment fed with 8% tomato powder and zero level of enzyme had the highest weight gain and best feed conversion ratio. The concentration of glucose, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, VLDL and hepatic enzymes of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were also affected by the interaction between tomato powder and the enzymes of Natuzyme (p <0.05). In quails fed with 4% tomato powder and zero-enzyme level, the highest concentration of plasma glucose and the lowest concentration of enzymes of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and superoxide dismutase were observed. Triglyceride and VLDL concentrations in the treatment with 12% tomato powder and enzyme, were less than other treatments, but in the treatment containing 12% tomato powder with zero level of enzyme, the lowest concentration of LDL and the highest HDL concentration were observed. Also, by adding different levels of tomato powder, the concentration of malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase enzyme respectivelly in groups fed with 4%  and 12% tomato powder were lower than other treatments (p<0.05). Based on the findings of research, it can be stated that adding tomato powder with enzyme to Japanese quail diet can improves the performance and strengthens the antioxidant activity.