Assessing the Viability of Incorporating Sunflower Meal and Roselle Seed Meal as Unconventional Protein Sources in the Diets of Japanese Quails on Growth Efficiency

THIS study aimed to assess the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of growing Japanese quails with sunflower meal (SFM) and roselle seed meal (RSM) at levels (5 and 10%). The analysis covered performance, carcass trait, some blood serum metabolites, gene expression, and economic efficiency measures. When comparing the quails in the experimental groups to those in the control group, there was no discernible difference in terms of their ultimate body weight or feed conversion ratio. However, body weight gain of growing quails fed 10% SFM or RSM showed higher body weight gain than other treatment group. The non -significant differences indicate that these alternative protein sources were at least as effective as soybean meal in supporting quail performance in the studied conditions. Blood serum parameters revealed that no statistically significant differences in total protein levels, HDL, and lipid peroxidation among the control group and the experimental groups. Nevertheless, it is significant that the cholesterol levels in all experimental groups were greater than those in the control group. The expression profiles of GH, IGF-I, PGAM2, IFN-alpha, IL -2, IL -4, IL -6, IL8, SOD, and GPX were considerably upregulated in the 10% SFM or RSM groups compared to other groups. MSTN, however, produced the opposite tendency. Significant economic efficiency measures were observed with the best results showing with a group feeding diet incorporating 10% SFM followed by 10% RSM incorporation. In conclusion, the utilization of SFM and RSM, especially at the 10% inclusion level instead of SBM, led to enhanced growth performance, improved expression of growth -related, immune, and antioxidant markers and improved economic efficiency in Japanese quails.