Reproductive performance of breeder quails fed diets supplemented with L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in breeder quails. The five treatment diets consisted of (i) negative control diet not supplemented with iron, (ii) positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe₃ O₄ and (iii) experimental diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. A total of 100 seven-day-old quail chicks were weighed and randomly placed to five groups of five replicate cages. Four quails (one male and three females) were raised in each cage (50 × 15 × 17 cm). Egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded daily and calculated on a hen per day basis. Egg components, fertility, hatchability and day-old chicks hatched from their eggs were measured at the end of the experiment. The percentage of egg production and egg mass of the 6 mg/kg Fe₃ O₄ -Cys NPs group were significantly higher than those of the control groups. Throughout the experimental period, the highest weekly egg weight was recorded for the 60 mg/kg Fe₃ O₄ -Cys NPs group. Fertility was improved by diet supplemented with iron, both FeSO₄ and Fe₃ O₄ -Cys NPs. The breeder fed Fe₃ O₄ -Cys NPs had the highest day-old chicks weight. The results of this study showed that Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles that were coated by L-cysteine could improve availability and utilization of iron in diet. Finally, it was proposed that Fe₃ O₄ -Cys NPs could be used as feed additives in quails.