Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita pepo) Flour on Productive and Haematobiochemical Parameters of Japanese Quails Exposed to Cadmium

Dietary cadmium exposure may adversely affect growth and blood biochemical characteristics of Japanese quails. This study assessed the effects of ascorbic acid and fluted pumpkin seed flour on growth performance and haematobiochemical parameters in growing Japanese quails exposed to cadmium. Seventy-five-day-old quails were used. The quails were divided into five equal groups of fifteen chicks each using a completely randomised design. Group A received the basal diet only (negative control); group B received the basal diet + 10 mg cadmium chloride/kg diet (positive control); group C received the basal diet + 10 mg cadmium chloride/kg diet + 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet; group D received the basal diet + 10 mg cadmium chloride/kg diet + 200 g fluted pumpkin seed flour/kg diet; and group E received the basal diet + 10 mg cadmium chloride/kg diet + 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet + 100 g fluted pumpkin seed flour/kg diet. Each bird's live weight was recorded before cadmium exposure and at weekly intervals. Feed intake was recorded daily, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the end of the experiment, we collected blood samples for haematobiochemical analysis. Results showed that final weight (g) and feed intake differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatment groups. Although weight gain (g) differed numerically among treatments, it was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among treatments, but numerically, the negative control (group A) had the best (lowest) FCR of 2.92, while the positive control group (B) had an FCR of 3.05; Group C had the highest FCR of 3.35. The supplemented groups (C, D, and E) showed varying improvements, with groups C and D performing better than B. Compared with Group A, cadmium exposure was associated with lower PCV, Hb and RBC values; the differences in MCHC and heterophils were not statistically significant. Increases in WBC and lymphocytes were also recorded in group B. Dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid and/or pumpkin seed flour was associated with improvements in several erythrocyte and leucocyte measures, although the between-group differences varied by parameter. Meanwhile, the feed supplement did not significantly affect MCV, monocytes, eosinophils, or basophils. In contrast, AST, ALT, ALP, urea, and creatinine increased significantly (p < 0.05), while total protein and albumin concentrations were lower in the cadmium-exposed group than in the negative control. Supplemented groups (C, D and E) generally showed lower activities of liver-associated enzymes and lower creatinine concentrations than Group B. Overall, dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid, fluted pumpkin seed flour, and their combination may help mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium on productive and haematobiochemical parameters in Japanese quails exposed to cadmium.