Effects of In-Ovo Rutin Injection to Fertile Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) Egg on Hatchability, Embryonic Death, Hatchling Weight, and Hatchling Liver Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of the antioxidant rutin injected in fertilized quail eggs on incubation parameters and some hatchling liver biochemical parameters. The study was carried out with 6 groups including a control group and 5 different doses of rutin, and it involved 720 fresh Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs. It was observed that rutin dose did not affect the early embryo mortality, whereas intermediate and late embryo mortality rates were higher in all groups given rutin in comparison to the control group. The mean hatchability of fertile eggs and total eggs for the control, 0.25 mg, 0.50 mg, 0.75 mg, 1 mg and 1.5 mg groups were calculated as 82.06, 82.23, 64.43, 68.84, 44.08, 22.95 % and 48.10, 55.49, 34.33, 33.00, 18.03, 8.45% respectively. Compared with the control group, hatchling mortality rate was higher only in the 0.25 rutin group, and lower in all other groups receiving rutin in-ovo. The highest hatchling weight was found in the 0.25 mg rutin group, and hatchling weight decreased as rutin dose increased. Consequently, considering the mortality rates, hatchling weights, and liver antioxidant/ oxidant capacities of the hatchlings, it is believed that the in-ovo injection of 0.25 mg rutin may be useful for Japanese quail production.