Effects of Otostegia persica and Boerhavia elegans leaf powders on performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, and antioxidant status in laying Japanese quails.

This study investigated the efficacy of dietary Otostegia persica (OP) and Boerhavia elegans (BE) leaf powders as phytogenic alternatives to an in-feed antibiotic in laying Japanese quails. A total of 420 quails were allocated to five dietary treatments for 42 days: a basal diet (Control), Control + 40 mg/kg tetracycline, and diets supplemented with 0.5% OP, 0.5% BE, or a combination of 0.25% OP + 0.25% BE. Dietary inclusion of BE and OP+BE significantly (P > 0.05) improved hen-day egg production and egg mass compared to the control. All phytogenic treatments enhanced egg quality, notably increasing the Haugh unit and yolk colour score. Herbal additives bolstered physiological resilience by enhancing humoral immunity (serum IgG and secretory IgA) and reducing stress (heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). Phytogenic groups showed improved blood biochemistry, with lower serum triglycerides and ALT, indicating better metabolic health and hepatoprotective effects. Antioxidant homeostasis improved, with lower malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). These benefits translated to greater vitamin E deposition in egg yolk. The combination of OP and BE demonstrated synergistic effects, often yielding superior results. In conclusion, OP and BE leaf powders, particularly in combination, serve as effective phytogenic alternatives to antibiotics, enhancing performance, egg quality, health, and welfare in laying quails.