Effects of antioxidants on body weight, cloacal gland and foam production in male Japanese quail

Attempts were made to determine the effects of antioxidants on body weight, cloacal gland and foam production in male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). For this study 189 birds (6 wks) of heavy body weight line of male Japanese quails from the same hatch were randomly selected and equally divided in to 9 groups. Effects of three levels of Vit.E (0, 150 and 300 IU/kg diet), three levels of selenium (0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg diet) and their combinations were examined on body weight, area of cloacal gland, and foam production at different time interval. The birds were fed the experimental diets from 6^th week onwards and the data was collected from 8^th to 20^th weeks of age. At the end of study (20 week) higher doses of selenium (1.0 mg/kg feed) along with Vit.E is responsible for significantly (P<0.05) increase in the area of cloacal gland and more (P<0.05) production of cloacal foam from male Japanese quails. No significant differences were observed in body weight. From this study, it may be concluded that higher level of selenium in combination of Vit.E increased the area of cloacal gland and foam production in male Japanese quail.