Gamma-oryzanol supplementation enhances laying performance, egg quality, and ovarian follicular development in Japanese quails

Vet World Vol.18 September-2025 Article - 1

Research Article

Veterinary World, 18(9): 2563-2572

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.2563-2572

Kunlayaphat Wuthijaree¹

, Wilasinee Inyawilert¹

, Pattaraporn Tatsapong¹

, Amornrat Wanangkarn¹

, Anurak Khieokhajonkhet¹

, and Chompunut Lumsangkul²

1. Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand.

2. Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Background and Aim: Gamma-oryzanol, a bioactive compound derived from rice bran, is recognized for its antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties. This study evaluated the effects of dietary gamma-oryzanol supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, blood health, and follicular development in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica).

Materials and Methods: A total of 216 12-week-old laying quails were randomly assigned to six groups receiving gamma-oryzanol at 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g/kg of diet for 7 weeks. Feed intake, egg production, feed conversion ratio, egg quality traits, hematological and biochemical parameters, and ovarian follicular characteristics were measured. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan’s post hoc test.

Results: Gamma-oryzanol at 0.2 g/kg significantly increased egg production (98.69%) compared to the control (86.80%). Supplementation at 0.3–0.5 g/kg improved eggshell thickness and yolk index (p < 0.05). Red blood cell counts were significantly higher at 0.4 g/kg, indicating enhanced erythropoiesis. Other hematological and biochemical parameters remained unchanged. A significant increase in small white follicle count and F3 follicle diameter was observed at 0.5 g/kg, indicating improved follicular development.

Conclusion: Gamma-oryzanol supplementation at 0.2–0.5 g/kg enhanced laying performance, egg quality, and ovarian follicle development without adverse hematological or biochemical effects. The compound shows potential as a safe and functional feed additive to support productivity and reproductive efficiency in commercial quail production.

Keywords: antioxidant feed additive, egg quality, follicular development, gamma-oryzanol, Japanese quails, laying performance.

How to cite this article: Wuthijaree K, Inyawilert W, Tatsapong P, Wanangkarn A, Khieokhajonkhet A, and Lumsangkul C (2025) Gamma-oryzanol supplementation enhances laying performance, egg quality, and ovarian follicular development in Japanese quails, Veterinary World, 18(9): 2563-2572.

Received: 31-03-2025 Accepted: 28-07-2025 Published online: 06-09-2025

Corresponding author: Kunlayaphat Wuthijaree E-mail: kunlayaphatw@nu.ac.th

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.2563-2572

Copyright: Wuthijaree, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.