Influence of Tribulus terrestris extract supplementation on laying productivity and eggs quality in Japanese quails

The aim of the current work was to examine the influence of Bulgarian phytoproduct VemoHerb T (dry extract of Tribulus terrestris -TT) on laying productivity of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and their egg morphological and sensor properties. A trial was organized with 52 female and 16 male Japanese quails from the breed Faraon at the age of 44 days randomly divided in four groups--control and three experimental groups, 13 female and 4 male each. All birds were fed ad libitum the same compound feed for Japanese quails. The trial lasted 10 weeks. The experimental groups received with the drink water the tested product in following daily doses: 4mg/kg body weight (10weeks); 10mg/kg body weight (the first 5 weeks of the trial); 10mg/kg body weight (10 weeks) for Ist, IInd, IIInd experimental groups respectively. The addition of TT-extract improved significantly the laying productivity. It was found significant higher values of egg weight, albumen--and yolk weight in quails from IInd and IIIrd experimental groups. There was a tendency to increase the egg shell weight and egg shell thickness in all treated groups in comparison to the control group. The use of VemoHerb T did not aggravate the sensor properties of the quails' eggs. KEY WORDS: Tribulus terrestris, Japanese quails, egg capacity, egg quality