Ratio of Linoleic and Alpha-Linolenic Acids and Vitamin E: The Productive Performance, Serum Biochemical Profile, and Yolk Composition of Japanese Quail Breeders

ABSTRACT Vitamin E in poultry has beneficial effects on productive and reproductive performance. It also acts as an antioxidant, protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids from the omega-3 group, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA). This paper aims to assess the effects of vitamin E (vitE) in diets containing two LA/ALA ratios on the productive performance, egg quality, egg composition, and biochemical parameters of Japanese quail breeders. A completely randomized design was used in a 2×3 factorial design with two LA/ALA ratios (9.29:1 and 13.75:1) × three vitamin E levels (25, 200, and 250 mg) with 10 replications of 6 females + 2 males. Data was submitted for analysis of variance in a factorial scheme using the Tukey test. There was no significant effect on performance and egg quality with the interactions. Eggs from females fed with an LA/ALA ratio of 9.29 had the lowest percentage of yolk, the highest percentage of albumen, and the highest luminosity. Females and males fed with the 13.75 ratio had higher levels of triglycerides and serum cholesterol. An interaction effect was observed for serum HDL and LDL levels in females. Breeders fed the diet with the 9.29 ratio and 200 mg of vitamin E has increased HDL levels and reduced LDL levels. The treatments had no effect on the bromatological composition of the yolk. In conclusion, the LA/ALA ratio of 9.29 with 200 mg of vitamin E supplementation can be fed to Japanese quail breeders without affecting productive performance. This ratio also can improve the biochemical composition of blood and yolk.