Body composition and sexual maturity in female quail fed diets containing L-carnitine

Female quail were fed the diets containing various amounts of L-carnitine from 21 days of age to sexual maturity, and the effects of dietary L-carnitine on body growth and composition and sexual maturity in female Japanese quail were investigated. Body growth did not vary with the amounts of dietary L-carnitine. At sexual maturity, carcass protein and fat contents were not different due to dietary L-carnitine level, and no differences were also found in serum cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid concentrations among the treatment groups. Age and ovary weight at sexual maturity did not vary with dietary L-carnitine level. The growth of ovarian follicles at sexual maturity was not changed by dietary L-carnitine. The results suggested that dietary L-carnitine supplementation did not influence body growth and composition and ovary growth in female quail.