Tomato pomace as a nontraditional feedstuff: productive and reproductive performance, digestive enzymes, blood metabolites, and the deposition of carotenoids into egg yolk in quail breeders

This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of tomato pomace ( TP ) into Japanese quail breeders' diet by investigating its effects on digestive enzymes, immune response, antioxidant status, blood biomarkers, productive performance, and the deposition of carotenoids into the egg yolk. A total of 150 mature 8-wk of age Japanese quails (100 females and 50 males) were allocated into 5 treatment groups, with 5 replicates, each of 6 quails (4 females and 2 males). The experimental diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous, based on corn and soybean meal, and included 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% of tomato pomace, respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation of tomato pomace up to 12% significantly improved the immune response, antioxidant response, and digestive enzymes of Japanese quail breeders, significantly decreased cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ), and increased high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ). Also, TP increased egg weight, egg mass and hatchability , where TP 6% had the greatest egg weight, egg mass and hatchability among other groups. Moreover, tomato pomace inclusion significantly had a positive effect on the deposition of lycopene into the egg yolk and it can be used as a good delivery system to improve human health. Tomato pomace up to 12% could be used as an alternative feedstuff in quail breeders' diets.