Egypt. Poult. Sci.

Vol (33) (IV): (723-727)

(1455)

Egyptian Poultry Science Journal

http://www.epsaegypt.com
ISSN: 1110-5623 (Print) 2090-0570 (On line)

EFFECT OF HIBISCUS CALYX IN DRINKING WATER ON EGG

PRODUCTION AND EGG QUALITY OF JAPANESE QUAILS
Musa-Azara, S.I,1 Jibrin,M ,1 Hassan, D.I1 and Yakubu A.2
1. Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nigeria.
2. Animal Science Dept. Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.
Received: 01/10/2013

Accepted: 22/10/2013

ABSTRACT: Three hundred 4weeks old Japanese quails were used to determine the
effects of hibiscus calyx (H.Sabdariffa) on egg production and egg quality parameters. The
quails were randomly divided into three treatment groups (n=100).Birds in group 1 serve as
controls and were given plain drinking water. Birds in groups 2 and 3 were administered
hibiscus calyx in drinking water at the rate of 0.5g/l and 1.0g/l respectively .Mean values of
egg weight ,egg length ,egg width, shell weight, shell thickness, albumen length, yolk
length and yolk height were not significantly different between treatment
groups(p>0.05).However, daily egg production was found to be significantly higher in the
control group (p<0.05).Relationship between egg weight and other egg traits were positive
and significant .Other egg parameters were positively correlated with each other at various
levels. Findings of this research indicate that Hibiscus calyx supplementation have adverse
effect on egg production at the levels used in this study.

Key Words: Hibiscus calyx, Japanese quails, egg production

Corresponding author: dribmazara@yahoo.com

M Usa-Azara et al

External egg quality traits investigated

included egg weight, egg length, egg width.
Similarly,
internal
egg
parameters
evaluated included shell weight, shell
thickness., albumen weight, yolk height,
yolk and yolk weight (g). Egg quality traits
were
measured
following
standard
procedures (Keddy et al., 1979, Monira et
al., 2003, Fayeye et al., 2005). Egg weight
was determined using an electronic scale
while egg length and width were measured
with a Vaniers caliper. Each egg was
carefully opened around its point end large
enough to allow the pass out of both yolk
and albumen through it without mixing
their contents, the yolk and albumen were
placed in separate Petri dishes, which had
initially been weighed. The difference in
the weight of Petri dishes before and after
introduction of yolk and albumen was
taken as the weight of yolk and albumen
respectively. The yolk and albumen heights
were recorded using a tripod micrometer.
The yolk width was measured around the
width horizontal circumference using
Vanier caliper. The thickness of each shell
was determined using a micrometer screw
gauge.
Analysis of variance was done for all
recorded parameters using appropriate sub
routine of SAS (1999). Means separation
was done using least significance different
(LSD) method at the level of P< 0.05.

INTRODUCTION
A sweetened aqueous extract of
hibiscus is gradually becoming a national
drink in Nigeria. It is commonly produced
and consumed (Iyare and Adegoke,
2011).In Egypt and Sudan the deep red tea
from the calyx called karkade is popular as
a refrigerant, it is commonly used to make
jellies and beverages (Leung and foster,
1996).Dried red calyx of hibiscus
sabdariffa is used as a traditional medicine
for its diuretic, hypocholesterolemic,
antihypertensive and mucolytic effects.
Water extracts of hibiscus flowers were
reported to have a relaxative effect on the
uterus (Franz and Franz, 1988).Extracts of
hibiscus Sabdariffa have been reported to
be rich in phytoestrogens (Adigun et al.,
2006, Dafallah and Al-mostafa, 1996). It
has also been associated with high
circulating
prolactin
and
lowered
circulating follicular stimulating hormone
(Omotugi et al., 2010). There is paucity of
reports on the effects of hibiscus calyx on
egg
production
and
egg
quality
characteristics. This study is designed to
investigate the effect of Hibiscus calyx on
egg production and egg quality of Japanese
quails.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research was conducted in the
livestock farm of the college of Agriculture
Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of
three hundred Japanese quails were used
for the study. Birds were randomly
assigned to 3 treatment groups, group1
serve as control and was given plain
drinking water, birds in groups 2 and 3
were administered Hibiscus calyx as
powder in drinking water at the rate of
0.5g/litre and 1.0g/litre respectively. The
experiment lasted for 4weeks.

Pearsons coefficients of correlation

among the various egg parameters (pooled
data) were estimated.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of this study indicate
that there is no significant difference in
mean values of egg weight ,egg length, egg
width ,shell thickness, shell weight,
albumen weight, yolk weight, yolk height
and yolk width (p>0.05)..However ,daily
egg production was found to be
significantly higher in the control compared
to
treatment
groups
.Correlation
coefficients of egg quality traits(pooled

Data collection and analysis:

Daily egg production was recorded
for each treatment group. Sixty eggs per
group were subjected to quality evaluation.
724

Hibiscus calyx, Japanese quails, egg production

data) are presented in table 2.Possitive and

significant correlations are observed
between egg weight and the other egg traits
.Extracts of hibiscus calyx have been
reported
to
be
rich
in
phytoestrogens(Adigun
et
al.,2006,
Dafallah
and
Mostafa,1996)
The
significantly higher mean values of egg
production in the control group can be
explained on the basis of the presence of
phytoestrogens .It has been established that
estrogen inhibit the secretion of GnRH
,Luteinizing
hormone
and
follicle

stimulating
hormone.
(Ganong,2005).Reduction in circulating
follicle stimulating hormone levels may
play a role in failed follicular development
in developing female animals and gonadal
atrophy in matured animals(Omotugi
etal.,2010).
CONCLUSION
Results of this research revealed the
adverse effect of Hibiscus calyx
supplementation on egg production in
Japanese quails.

TABLE (1): Egg quality characteristics of Japanese quails as affected by varying levels of
hibiscus calyx supplementation.
Control
Treatment 1(0.5g/l)
Treatment2(1g/l)
Mean SD SEM Mean SD
SEM Mean SD SEM
Egg weight(g)
7.95 1.40 0.28 8.17
1.18
0.23
7.82 1.72 0.34
Egg length(cm)
2.82 0.21 0.04 2.83
0.22
0.04
2.80 0.30 0.08
Egg width(cm)
2.31 0.13 0.02 2.33
0.11
0.22
2.30 0.24 0.05
Shell weight(g)
1.34 0.15 0.03 1.36
0.12
0.02
1.37 0.12 0.02
Shell thickness(mm) 0.23 0.06 0.01 0.24
0.06
0.01
0.24 0.06 0.01
Albumen weight(g)
3.19 0.66 0.13 3.27
0.66
0.13
3.27 0.71 0.14
Albumen
height(mm)
0,24 0.05 0.01 0.25
0.05
0.01
0.25 0.05 0.01
Yolk weight(g)
2.67 0.57 0.11 2.73
0.56
0.11
2.77 0.56 0.11
Yolkheight(cm)
0.46 0.12 0.13 0.48
0.12
0.02
0.50 0.12 0.02
Yolk width(cm)
2.89 0.57 0.11 2.93
0.54
0.10
3.01 0.49 0.09
Dailyegg production 73.06a 2.10 0.35 39.84b 1.11
0.25 37.84b 0.85 0.22
SD-Standard deviation, SEM- standard error of means,
means within the same row having different superscripts are significantly different (p<0.05)
parameters

725

M Usa-Azara et al

Table (2): Bivariate correlation of egg quality characteristics of Japanese quails as affected by hibiscus supplementation.

726

Egg
Egg
weight length
Egg weight
.698*
Egg length
Egg width
Shell width
Shell thickness
Albumen weight
Albumen height
Yolk weight
Yolk height
** correlation is significant at 0.01 level
* correlation is significant at 0.05 level

Egg
width
.801**
.813**
-

Shell
width
.722**
.693**
585**
=
-

Shell
thickness
.733**
.576**
.510**
.897**
-

Albumen
weight
.815**
.674**
.627**
.881**
.931**
-

Albumen
height
.860**
.661**
.701**
.826**
.861**
.876**
-

Yolk
weight
.690*
.4213*
.530*
.745*
.819*
.783*
.830*
-

Yolk
heigth
.517*
.378*
.493*
590**
.562*
.605*
597**
.726*
-

Yolk
Width
.589*
.518*
536*
.661*
.630*
.618*
.670*
579**
.440*

Hibiscus calyx, Japanese quails, egg production

REFERENCES

Iyare,E.E and Adegoke ,O.A(2011).

Gestational outcome in Rats that
consumed aqueous extract of
hibiscus
sabdariffa
during
pregnancy.Pakistan J.Nutr 10(4)
350-354
Leung, A, Y and Foster, S (1996).
Encyclopedia of Common Natural
Ingredients used in Food, Drugs and
Cosmetics, 2nd ed, John Wiley and
Sons, New York, 1996.
Monira, K.N, Salahudin, M and Miah, G
(2003). Effect of breed and holding
period on egg quality characteristic
of chicken. Int. j. poultry Sci; 2: 261
263
Neeru.V AND Sharma.S.K (2008). Post
coital infertility activity of Hibiscus
rosa
sinensis
Linn
roots.Alternat.med 5(1).91-94
Omotogi.O,Ologundide.A,Onwubiko,V.
O,Owogu,M.O
and
Obi,F.O
(2010) Hibiscus sabdariffaLinn
anthocyanins
alter
circulating
reproductive
hormones
in
Rabbits.Journalofdiabettes
and
endocrinology vol 1(3),36-45
Keddy, P.M, Shape, V.Rand Rap,P,
S(1979). EGG WEIGHT, shape
indere and hatehability in khaki
Campbell check egg. Indian .j.
poultry. Sci, 14: 26 31.
SAS, 1999. SAS Users guide: statistic
release version. 8.0. statistical
Analysis system sinstitute, inc.

Adigun,M.O,Ogundipe,O.D,Anetor,J.I
And Odetunde,A.O(2006). Dose
dependent changes in some
hematological parameters during
shot term administration of Hibiscus
calyx extract in winster albino Rats.
Afr.j.med.sci, 35; 73-77
Ali,B.H,
Allawati.
I,
Beegam.S,
Ziada.A,Al-salam,S
Nemmar.A
and Blunden.G(2012). Effects of
hibiscus
sabdariffa
and
its
anthocyanins on some reproductive
aspects in rats .Nat.prod.comm 7(1)
Dafallah,A.A, and Al-mostafa.Z(1996).
Investigations
of
the
anti
inflammatory
actionof
Acacia
nilotica
and
Hibiscus
sabdariffa.AM.J.CLIN.MED,
24;
263-269
Fayeye, T.R, Adeshiyan, A.B and
olugbami, A. A (2005). Egg traits,
hatehability and early growth
performance of the Falemi ecotype
children. Livestock research for
rural
development
WWW.CIpav.org.co
Ganong,W.F(2005). Review of medical
physiology. 2nd Ed,Mc GRAW-Hill
company inc,USA
Iyare,E.Eand Nwagha.U.I(2009) Delayed
puberty onset in Rats that consumed
aqueous extract of Hibiscus
sabdariffa during the juvenile
pubertal period.Pakitan journal of
biological sci.12;1505-1510

727