EFFECTS OF MAGNETIZED WATER AND TIME-RESTRICTED FEEDING ON SELECTED REPRODUCTIVE AND HORMONAL PARAMETERS IN JAPANESE QUAIL ( coturnix japonica )

This study aimed to investigate the effects of magnetized water and time-restricted feeding on selected reproductive and hormonal parameters in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). A total of 312 day-old unsexed chicks were utilized in the experiment. The birds were randomly distributed to four treatments (78 chicks each): T1 (unmagnetized water with ad libitum feeding), T2 (unmagnetized water with 5-hour daily feed restriction), T3 (magnetized water with ad libitum feeding), and T4 (magnetized water with 5-hour daily feed restriction). Each treatment consisted of three replicates (26 chicks per replicate), with housing, management, and feeding conditions standardized across all groups; the results showed a significant increase (P≤0.05) in testicular weight and testosterone concentration in males receiving magnetized water compared with those receiving unmagnetized water. Females that consumed magnetized water also exhibited a significant increase (P≤0.05) in ovarian weight and serum FSH and LH concentrations. Time-restricted feeding had no significant effect on testicular weight or testosterone Change to concentration in males, whereas ad libitum-fed females showed significantly higher (P≤0.05) ovarian weight and FSH and LH concentrations compared with feed-restricted females. The interaction effect revealed significantly higher (P≤0.05) testicular weight and testosterone levels in males of T3 and T4 compared with T1 and T2. Females in T3 and T4 showed significantly higher ovarian weight and FSH levels compared with T1 and T2, while T3 recorded the highest LH concentration. The findings revealed that magnetized water, alone or in combination with time-restricted feeding, may improve certain reproductive and hormonal parameters in Japanese quail.