Effect of supplementation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with phytobiotic (thyme oil) on blood biochemical profile and carcass traits of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) with phytobiotic (thyme oil) on blood bio-chemicals and carcass traits of Japanese quails. Two hundred and forty, day-old Japanese quails were randomly divided into four treatments (60 birds/ treatment). Dietary treatments were; standard quail diet as per ICAR 2013 (T₀), whereas, T₁, T₂ and T₃ groups were supplemented with 450 mg/kg thyme essential oil, 200 g/ton yeast and their combination respectively. On 35^th day, two quails per replicate were sacrificed to analyse carcass traits and blood samples were collected to assess the blood biochemical profile. The results indicated that T₃ group showed significantly higher dressing percentage, total protein, serum albumin, globulin, and reduced serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentration, whereas no significant effects were observed on the remaining carcass parameters. This study concluded that supplementation of thyme oil and yeast had positive impact on blood biochemical profile and carcass traits of Japanese quail.