Authors : I. Sadi Cetingul , Ismail Bayram , A. Burhaneddin Akkaya , Cangir Uyarlar and Mehmet Yardimci
Abstract: The aim of this research is to determine the effects of dietary peppermint leaves on egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg quality parameters and hatching parameters in quails. Totally 180 laying quails of 15 weeks age were used. Animals were divided into 6 groups (30 animals in each group). Five of them were supplemented by different levels of peppermint up to 50 g kg-1. The control group received no peppermint. The differences on feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg quality parameters were not significantly different between the groups. The 20 g kg-1 peppermint supplementation group consumed less daily feed. Among the hatching parameters, the values regarding late embryonic mortality and pipped were lowest in control group. It was concluded that peppermint supplementation into the ration up to 50 g kg-1 caused no important adverse effect except yolk index value in quails and 20 g kg-1 peppermint supplementation was produced better results than the other groups regarding feed consumption values.
I. Sadi Cetingul , Ismail Bayram , A. Burhaneddin Akkaya , Cangir Uyarlar and Mehmet Yardimci , 2008. Effect of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) on Performance, Hatchability and Egg Quality Parameters of Laying Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7: 1489-1494.