Methionine mitigates aflatoxicosis in quail chicks by improving gut microbiota, immunity, and meat quality

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary methionine (Met) supplementation on performance, immunity, and meat quality in growing Japanese quail exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-contaminated diets. Nine experimental diets were formulated, incorporating three levels of dietary Met (5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 g/kg) and three levels of AFB1 (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg) in a completely randomized design and fed from d 8 post-hatch to d 35 of age. The results revealed that increasing dietary Met levels significantly improved body weight gain (BWG; P