Effects of ground echinacea (echinacea purpurea) supplementation quail diets on growth performance and carcass traits [Bi{dotless}ldi{dotless}rci{dotless}n rasyonlari{dotless}na i̇lave edilen öǧütülmüş ekinezya (echinacea purpurea) bitkisinin büyüme performansi{dotless} ve karkas özellikleri üzerine etkisi]

This research was conducted to determine effects of echinacea supplementation quail diets on growth performance and carcass traits. a total of 207 japanese quail (coturnix coturnix japonica) were used in the study. they were divided into one control and two experimental groups each containing 69 japanese quail chicks. each group was divided into three subgroups of 23 chicks. the study lasted 35 days. the control group (c),was fed basic rations without supplement. the rations of experimental groups were supplemented with 1 g/kg (gi) and 5 g/kg (gii) of echinacea,respectively. at the end of the study,there were no statistically significant differences in terms of live weight gain,feed consumption,feed efficiency or carcass yield (p>0.05). nevertheless,live weight increased in the second week in group ii (p<0.05). there were statistically significant differences in the weight of heart,liver and wing (p<0.05). in conclusion,echinacea supplementation had no additional effect on quail performance.