Comparison of performance of commercial laying hens and Japanese laying quails in response to containing different levels of protein and black cumin seed (Nigella sativa L.)

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This research was conducted in two separate experiments to evaluate the effects of different levels of protein and black cumin seed (Nigella sativa L.) on performance, egg quality and blood parameters in commercial laying hens and Japanese laying quails. In the first experiment, a total of 120 LSL commercial laying hens 44 weeks old were divided into 6 groups with 4 replicates of 5 hens each (20 laying hens per group). In the second experiment, a total of 216 Japanese laying quails (10 weeks old) were divided into 6 groups with 4 replicates of 9 quails each (20 laying quails per group). The birds were raised for 10 weeks in a randomized complete block design with 2×3 factorial arrangements with two protein levels (recommended level and 0.85 recommended level) and three levels of black seed (0, 1.5 and 3%). The results of both experiments showed that feed conversation ratio were significantly increased by the low protein diet in laying hens and Japanese laying quails (P<0.05). Egg production and egg mass weight of hens were significantly higher in the hens which fed the optimum protein diet than those fed low protein diet. In Japanese laying quails, there was no significant differences for egg production and egg mass weight between the birds fed the balanced or low protein (P>0.05). In laying hens, consumption of optimum dietary protein and black seed caused the improved egg weight (P<0.05).

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