Evaluation of Pracaxi Oil as a Functional Feed Additive for Laying Japanese Quails

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) oil inclusion on productive performance, egg quality, nutrient metabolizability, yolk fatty acid composition, serum biochemical parameters, organ biometry, and intestinal morphometry in laying Japanese quails. A total of 175 84-day-old quails were assigned to five dietary treatments containing 0%, 0.045%, 0.090%, 0.180%, and 0.360% Pracaxi oil in a completely randomized design with seven replicates of five birds over two consecutive 28-day experimental periods. Productive performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters, and organ biometry were not affected by dietary treatments, although feed conversion per dozen eggs increased linearly with increasing dietary Pracaxi oil inclusion. Crude protein and mineral matter metabolizability increased linearly. Among yolk fatty acids, only α-linolenic acid showed a quadratic response, with a maximum predicted concentration of 0.182% at a dietary Pracaxi oil inclusion level of 0.170%. Duodenal crypt depth decreased linearly, whereas the remaining intestinal morphometric variables were unaffected. Overall, dietary Pracaxi oil produced limited biological responses under the conditions evaluated, with no improvements in productive performance despite increases in crude protein and mineral matter metabolizability, changes in yolk α-linolenic acid concentration, and reduced duodenal crypt depth. Further studies are warranted before practical recommendations can be established.