Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, Uttrakhand, India
*Corresponding author: DCN Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India (E mail: hujaztak@gmail.com)
Online published on 11 November, 2014.
A study was conducted on 120 Japanese quails to study the effect of Aloe vera and clove on serum biochemical, haematological and immunological parameters. The experiment lasted for 35 days in which Japanese quails were randomly divided into four treatment groups, each group having three replications consisting of ten birds each. All the birds (starter and finisher) were fed according to requirements. The birds in control group (T1) were given no supplement whereas in treatments T2, T3 and T4, birds were supplemented with Aloe vera leaf powder, clove and mixture of both (powdered form) at 0.5, 0.5 and 0.25+0.25% of feed, respectively. Haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count and total leucocyte count, serum protein, albumin, globulin, albumin-globulin ratio, glucose, triglycerides were not affected by Aloe vera and clove supplementation. Immune response as revealed by delayed type of hypersensitivity (measurement of skin thickness) and serum immunoglobulin were improved in all the three supplemented groups. It could be concluded that Aloe vera and clove supplementation through feed improved immune status of Japanese quails without affecting haematological and serum biochemical parameters.
Aloe vera, clove, Japanese quails, Blood biochemical parameters, Immunoglobulin
