Effects of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Infusion Supplementation in Drinking Water on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Quail

The use of phytogenic additives as natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters has gained increasing attention in poultry production. This study investigated the effects of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) infusion supplementation in drinking water on growth performance, water consumption, slaughter and carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Japanese quail. A total of 160 seven-day-old mixed-sex quail chicks were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with four replicates of 10 birds each. The experimental groups consisted of a control group receiving plain drinking water and three groups receiving sage infusion diluted in drinking water at 25%, 50%, and 75% inclusion levels for 42 days. Growth performance parameters, water consumption, carcass traits, internal organ weights, and meat quality characteristics (pH and color parameters of breast and thigh meat) were evaluated. Sage infusion supplementation did not result in statistically significant differences in growth performance, water consumption, slaughter and carcass characteristics, or meat color parameters compared with the control group (P>0.05). Breast meat pH values were significantly affected by sage infusion supplementation, with lower pH values observed at higher infusion levels (P