Irradiated Chitosan in Rations Reduces Lipogenesis Activity of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of irradiated chitosan on Japanese quail lipid regulation and its impact on free radical compounds. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer obtained from chitin deacetylation, is commonly utilized in food and livestock applications due to its biodegradability, safety, and beneficial effects as a prebiotic and modulator of lipid metabolism. The study used a completely randomized design with experimental methods, consisting of 9 treatments and 3 replications. Each replication consisted of 7 Japanese quails, namely P0 = without chitosan, PA1 = given 100 ppm chitosan from 4-30 days of age, PA2 =given 250 ppm chitosan from 4-30 days of age, PA3 = given 350 ppm chitosan from 4-30 days of age, PA4 = given 400 ppm chitosan from 4-30 days of age, PB1 = given 100 ppm chitosan from 15-30 days of age, PB2 = given 250 ppm chitosan from 15-30 days of age, PB3 = given 350 ppm chitosan from 15-30 days of age and PB4 = given 100 ppm chitosan from 10-30 days of age. The parameters observed in this study were Japanese quail lipid regulators and transport (HDL, LDL), plasma lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol), and free radical activity (MDA, bilirubin. Based on the study results, irradiated chitosan supplementation effectively regulated lipid metabolism, improved biochemical parameters, and enhanced the production performance of Japanese quail. Supplementation at 400 ppm from the beginning of the finisher phase (15 days of age) provided the greatest benefits by optimizing lipid biosynthesis and producing the highest final body weight, making it the most effective dietary inclusion level among the treatments tested.