Alteration of Lipid Metabolism in Japanese Quail by Feeding Oat Hulls and Brans

Five varieties of oat brans fed for 4 weeks at 2.27% and oat hulls fed at 11.36% in a semi-purified diet containing .5% cholesterol were ineffective in lowering cholesterol levels in the serum of 5-week-old Japanese quail. Oat brans and hulls reduced the level of fat in livers of both males and females. No differences in cholesterol levels were observed between sexes, but hypertriglyceridemia and high liver fat contents were more evident in females. This may be the result of sexual maturation stimulated by a 14L:10D photoperiod.