Effect of peppermint leaf powder inclusion on performance of Japanese quails

Swapnil, A.S., Kumari, K.N.R., Narendranath, D. and Kavitha, P. 2023. Effect of peppermint leaf powder inclusion on performance of Japanese quails. Indian Journal Poultry Science, 58(3): 215–219.

The present trial was done to assess the impact of inclusion of peppermint leaf powder (PLP) on performance of Japanese quails. One hundred and fifty day old quails with an average bodyweight of 8±0.5 g were randomly assigned to five groups each with three replicates of 10 birds. Test diets were prepared by inclusion of PLP at 0% (T₁: control), 0.75% (T₂), 1.5% (T₃), 2.25% (T₄) and 3.0% (T₅) levels by marginal adjustment of other feed ingredients. Significantly (p<0.05) higher body weights, body weight gain and lower feed intake were observed in birds fed with increasing levels of PLP. Significantly better (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio was noticed at 3.0% level of PLP inclusion. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, nitrogen free extract and crude fiber were significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of PLP up to 3%. There was no significant difference in feed cost per kg gain in quails fed with PLP as compared with control group. It may be in determined that, peppermint leaf powder can safely be included up to 3.0% level in the diet without any adverse effect on performance of quails.