Evaluation of optimum dietary inclusion level of probiotics for potential benefits on intestinal histomorphometry, microbiota, and pH in Japanese Quails

Table 1. Effects on digestive tract morphometric indices (Mean ± SEM) of control, probiotics and AGP groups in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Parameters	Group (Mean ± SEM)					F-value	Polynomial contrast
Parameters	Control	Probiotics 0.015gm/Bird	Probiotics 0.03gm/Bird	Probiotics 0.045gm/Bird	AGP	F-value	Linear	Quadric
Gizzard relative weight (gm)	16.94^c±1.08	21.55^ab±1.80	23.68^a±1.31	19.94^abc±1.14	17.43^bc±1.57	4.03**	0.082	0.006
Intestine relative weight (gm)	29.09^bc±1.16	32.25^ac±1.35	35.61^a±0.42	34.32^ab±1.06	30.27^bc±2.09	3.45*	0.001	0.048
Duodenum relative length (cm)	45.48^b±1.95	48.91^ab±1.96	51.06^a±1.26	50.79^a±0.99	46.94^ab±1.62	2.27^NS	0.020	0.262
Jejunum relative length (cm)	124.76^a±7.35	126.67^a±2.57	137.30^a±3.80	131.02^a±9.06	131.48^a±6.92	0.58^NS	0.307	0.521
Ileum relative length (cm)	88.45^a±6.17	89.48^a±5.94	101.95^a±2.25	96.02^a±3.41	93.48^a±4.22	1.377^NS	0.113	0.471

Significant differences were determined using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Duncan’s multiple range tests. The orthogonal polynomial contrast test was considered to ascertain the linear and quadratic effects of increasing probiotics supplementation (gm) in diets on each parameter. Differences compared to control and treated groups are ** Significant at 1% (p<0.01), * Significant at 5% (p<0.05); Figures in the row with similar alphabet (a,b,c) do not differ significantly. NS= non-significant, gm= Gram, kg= Kilogram, cm= Centimetre.