Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi (Online), vol.4, no.3, pp.441-451, 2021 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of adding different levels of black cumin seed (BCS) to the compound feed on performance, serum criteria, and reproductive hormones in male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). 80 male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) at the age of 21 days were used in the study. The trial was carried out with 5 repetitions in 4 treatment groups (20 subgroups with 4 animals in each cage) and completed in 3 weeks. The treatment groups were as follows: Group A (the control group fed with basal feed, 0%); Group B (the group fed with basal feed + 0,5% black cumin seed); Group C (the group fed with basal feed + 1,0 % black cumin seed); and Group D (the group fed with basal feed + 2,0% black cumin seed). In the study, it was found that the addition of black cumin seed to the rations of male quails had no significant effect on their performance, testicular characteristics, serum parameters, and reproductive hormones. However, it was also found that the addition of0,5% BCS caused an increase in the ratio of testicular weight to live weight, and the serum FSH levels tended to decrease with the addition of BCS; so there is a need for more studies on this subject.