Effect of Ginger and Turmeric Powder Supplementation on Ovarian Morphology and Internal Organ Weight in Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder on ovarian morphology and internal organ weight of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). A total of 108 birds were randomly assigned to six treatments: control, 5% ginger (5G), 10% ginger (10G), 5% turmeric (5T), 10% turmeric (10T) and 5% ginger + 5% turmeric (5G+5T), administered in drinking water for six weeks in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data collected on ovarian morphology (follicular count and stroma weight) and internal organs (liver, heart, spleen, kidney, gizzard, intestine) were weighed relative to body weight and analyzed using JMP version 17.0 with means separated by Tukey’s HSD test at p<0.05. Results showed that while follicular counts (small white, large white, small yellow, and large yellow follicles) were not significantly altered (p>0.05), the ovarian stroma weight was significantly influenced (p<0.05). Stroma weight was significantly higher in the 5% ginger group (0.82g vs. 0.15g in the control). The internal organ weights remained unaffected (p>0.05), indicating no adverse physiological burden. The study concludes that the addition of ginger and turmeric powder at 5% specifically enhanced stroma tissue development, a key supportive compartment for folliculogenesis, without inducing significant changes in the major internal organs of Japanese quails. This suggests a beneficial effect of ginger on reproductive organ morphology.