Combination of Probiotics and Phytase Supplementation Positively Affects Health of Japanese Quails

Phytase is an enzyme that breaks down phytate into inositol and inorganic phosphate. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus cereus and microbial phytase on numerous health measurements in Japanese quails individually and in combination. For 28 days, 200-day-old Japanese quails were divided into four groups and fed a commercial corn-based basal diet (BD) enhanced with probiotics and phytase. The results showed that the combination of probiotics and phytase supplementation positively impacted the health of quails. The birds in the supplemented groups had higher total protein and albumin levels and lower aspartate transaminase (AST) levels than the untreated group. However, the supplementation had no influence on the levels of urea, uric acid, creatinine, and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the serum of the quails. Furthermore, the serum triiodothyronine level decreased in the birds that received probiotics and the combination of probiotics and phytase, while serum glucose level increased in all supplemented groups associated with the control group. In conclusion, combining probiotics and phytase supplementation improved liver health and thyroid hormone levels in Japanese quails, increasing serum proteins.