Effects of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Containing Diets of Quails on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristic, Some Blood Parameters and Mast Cell Numbers

Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is used for medicinal purposes as a preventive, therapeutic and metabolic regulator due to its bioactive compounds. With the purpose of determine the effect of this plant on quail, 240 of these 1 day old quail chicks were divided into 4 groups, control, added plantain into rations as 1%, 3% and 5%. Body weight gain, feed intake carcass characteristics, internal organ measurements, blood parameters and mast cells were determined. At the end of the study, the hot carcass yield, cold carcass weight and yield were high in the 1%, gizzard weight in 5% plantain added group (p？0.05). The total amount of blood protein was the highest in 3% added group (p？0.05). Blood glucose levels were high in all treatment groups compared to the control group (p？0.05). The amount of T-testosterone was higher than the others in the control and 3% plantain groups (p？0.05). The total number of mast cells increased in the 5% plantain group (p？0.05). it was understood that the addition of plantain to quail rations could have a positive effect, but bioactive components and secondary metabolites of plantain and its extracts need identification and isolation by in vitro and in vivo studies for determining effects on metabolism