Effect of different levels of sumac powder (Rhus coriaria L.) and probiotic protexin on performance, carcass characteristics and length of intestines of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in growth period

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different levels of sumac powder (Rhus coriaria L. ) and probiotics protexin on performance, carcass traits and the small intestines, large and cecum quail from age 7 to 42 days of 120 Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) in a 4 × 2 factorial experiment with two levels of probiotics (0 and .012 %) and four levels of sumac (0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 percent) in a completely randomized design with eight treatments, three replicates per treatment and five quails (both sexes) in each replicate. Feed intake and body weight were measured weekly. At the end of experiment from each replicate, 4 quails (2 male and 2 female) were randomly selected and slaughtered. Protexin probiotic intake (0.120 %) at different ages (7 to 42 days) quails were not significantly different, in case different levels of sumac from age 14 to 42 days were significant difference among treatments. So, that at 14 days and 42 days of ages control treatment was superior to the other treatments (P<0.05). Feed coefficient ratio was not affected by experimental treatments and weren’t significant differences among treatments and control treatment. Different parts of the carcass and liver weight were not affected by probiotics, but carcass weight (prepared for cooking), breast, thigh and liver were affected by sumac powder (P<0.05). Length of large and small intestines were affected by sumac powder and were significant difference (P<0.05). Length of small and large intestines for treatments getter 0.1 and 0.15 percent sumac were shorter than the control treatment. Length of large intestine was significantly shorter than the control treatment. Add sumac due to increased appetitive and having the ability to change the intestinal microbial population of beneficial micro-organisms can be used as a replacing of antibiotics in Japanese quail diet.