RESUMO
This study examined the effects of lavender essential oil on performance, meat quality, microbial load, fatty acid profile and gut microbiota in quails. In the study, 200 quails (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) were divided into 4 groups and 5 subgroups. The groups consisted of a control group (0 mg/kg feed) and three lavender essential oil groups, namely Lav125 (125 mg/kg feed), Lav250 (250 mg/kg feed), and Lav500 (500 mg/kg feed). In terms of body weight change, Lav500 group had the best results after the control group (p>0.05). It was observed that, compared to the control group, pH levels were high (p<0.05) in Lav250 and Lav500 groups on the 9th day of storage. The effect of storage time on malondialdehyde (MDA) was used as a parameter of lipid peroxidation in meat, and the Lav250 and Lav500 groups presented lower concentrations as compared to the control group (p<0.05). In this study, the addition of lavender essential oil to the diet enriched the concentrations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Moreover, the height of villi in the duodenum and jejunum, and consequently absorption, increased significantly in the Lav500 group as compared to the control group. The concentration of MDA, a blood serum antioxidant enzyme, decreased with the addition of lavender oil. Additionally, lavender essential oil added to quail diets was observed to increase the number of Lactobacillus spp. (probiotic bacteria) colonies (p<0.05).(AU)