Impact of Adding Different Levels of Licorice Root Powder to Japanese Quail Diet on Egg Production and Quality

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of dietary supplementation of licorice root powder (LRP) Glycyrrhiza glabra on the productive performance of Quail and some qualitative egg traits. A total of 128 female quails aged 49 days were randomly distributed into four groups, each containing four replicates with eight females per replicate. The groups were as follows: G1 (control) was fed a standard diet without supplementation, while G2, G3 and G4 were supplemented with licorice root powder 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%, respectively, added to the same standard diet. The results of the study showed significant rise (p≤0.05) in the total number of eggs and percentage rate of egg production (%H.D.) in the third group (G3) when compared to the control group. In addition, no differences were noted in average egg weight, total egg mass, total feed intake, efficiency of feed conversion, body weight change, or overall death rate. The present work also showed no differences in shell thickness and weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, or shape index of the egg. In conclusion, this study suggests using licorice root powder as an ecologically safe and sustainable dietary supplement in layer quail feeding at 1% to boost egg production rate.