Research Article

Effect of Sweet Basil Leaf Waste Meal (Ocimum basilicum L.) on Gas Emission, Physiological Responses and Production Performance of Quail

Mukhlizar Syahril1*, Niken Ulupi1, Hera Maheshwari2, Wahyuni3

1Department of Animal Science Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Jl. Raya Dramaga, Babakan, Dramaga, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia; 2Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Jl. Raya Dramaga, Babakan, Dramaga, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia; 3Study Program of Animal Science Universitas Islam Lamongan, Lamongan 62211, Indonesia.

Received | May 15, 2026; Accepted | June 27, 2026; Published | August 05 , 2026

*Correspondence | Mukhlizar Syahril, Department of Animal Science Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Jl. Raya Dramaga, Babakan, Dramaga, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia; Email: [email protected]

Citation | Syahril M, Ulupi N, Maheshwari H, Wahyuni (2026). Effect of sweet basil leaf waste meal (Ocimum basilicum L.) on gas emission, physiological responses and production performance of quail. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci., 14(8):1774-1782.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2026/14.8.1774.1782

ISSN (Online) | 2307-8316

Copyright: 2026 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

INTRODUCTION

Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) is a type of poultry widely cultivated in Indonesia. They produce 250–300 eggs per year (Amo et al., 2013). Quail productivity is generally influenced by two factors: Genetics and the environment. One environmental factor is microclimate (Utama et al., 2021). Microclimate consists of several elements, one of which is environmental temperature (Fajri and Ngatiman, 2017; Jumadin et al., 2024). The environmental temperature in Indonesia is 23-36°C (BMKG, 2023), whereas the comfort zone for poultry is 20-24°C (Ulupi et al., 2016). This high environmental temperature causes quail to experience heat stress, which in turn leads to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition of imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant activity in the body (Maheshwari et al., 2017; Jumadin et al., 2022). According to Dorovskikh et al. (2023), extreme environmental changes can lead to behavioral and physiological changes. Zulkifli et al. (2018) reported that quail exposed to heat stress increase their water intake to maintain body fluid balance. Increased water consumption accelerates the digestive process, resulting in wetter excreta (Aggrey et al., 2023). Moist litter conditions combined with high environmental temperatures promote the activity of decomposing bacteria, such as Proteus spp., which degrade nutrients present in the excreta. This process can increase the production of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from quail excreta, thereby potentially deteriorating air quality. One approach to mitigate oxidative stress is supplementation of antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds (Anwar et al., 2020). Natural sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds can be derived from various plants, including sweet basil.

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a soft-stemmed plant commonly found in tropical regions. Sweet basil is almost the same as lemon basil. According to various references, both belong to the same genus, Ocimum, but differ at the species level. Sweet basil is classified as Ocimum basilicum L., whereas lemon basil is classified as Ocimum africanum L. (Azizah et al., 2023; Yadav et al., 2025). Lemon basil has often been used as a supplement in animal feed, particularly in poultry feed. The inclusion of lemon basil leaf meal in quail diets during the growing period at levels of 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% has been evaluated. The results showed that supplementation at the 1.5% level produced the best feed conversion ratio (Aly et al., 2024). This finding was not used as a direct basis for dosage determination but as a supportive reference for establishing the inclusion range. To date, sweet basil has primarily been utilized for its seeds, which are commonly used as ingredients in beverages (Munir et al., 2017). After seed harvesting, the remaining plant parts, including the leaves, are generally discarded as agricultural waste. Sweet basil leaf waste meal contains various bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolics, and tannins, which possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties (Pandey et al., 2023). These compounds may improve physiological condition of birds and reduce the formation of NH3 and H2S in excreta. Although lemon basil leaf meal has been reported to improve quail performance (Aly et al., 2024), information regarding the use of sweet basil leaf waste meal and its effects on NH3 and H2S production in excreta, physiological responses, and production performance of quail remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with sweet basil leaf waste meal on NH3 and H2S production in excreta, physiological responses, and production in laying quail.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Time and location

This research was conducted at several locations, namely at Arkan Quail Farm, the Biopharmaceutical Study Center Laboratory of IPB, PT Saraswanti Indo Genetech (SIG), the Environmental Research Center Laboratory of IPB, and the Animal Hospital and Education Center of IPB. The procedures followed the regulations of the Animal Ethics Commission of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicine of IPB (No. 371/KEH/SKE/IX/2025).

Research tools and materials

This research used a total of 20 cages. Each cage measured 50 × 75 × 36 cm and contained 10 quails. Cage equipment included a feeder, a drinker, an incandescent lamp, and a thermometer. A total of 200 female quails aged 6 weeks were used in this study. The materials used were commercial feed New Hope P100 (crude protein 17%, metabolizable energy 2800 kcal/kg) and sweet basil leaf waste meal. The tools and materials used for laboratory testing were adjusted to the observed parameter procedures.

Preparation of sweet basil leaf waste meal

Sweet basil leaves were obtained from commercial farmers in Lamongan Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The production of sweet basil leaf waste meal began with harvesting sweet basil plants at optimal maturity by local farmers. The harvested sweet basil plants were sun-dried until the leaves wilted, then separated from the stems. Then, sorting was carried out to separate the leaves from the unnecessary parts. The sweet basil leaf waste that was not utilized by the farmers was dried and then ground into sweet basil leaf waste meal. Afterwards, phytochemical and proximate analyses were carried out.

Experimental design

This study used a completely randomized design. Feed was provided twice daily, while drinking water was offered ad libitum. Temperature recording in the cage was carried out daily, namely in the morning (6:00-7:00 a.m.), afternoon (12:00-1:00 p.m.), and evening (4:00-5:00 p.m.). The quail used were 200 birds aged 6 weeks. 3 birds were randomly selected from each cage for physiological measurements, and the values were averaged to represent the cage as the experimental unit. The feed used was New Hope P100 commercial feed with sweet basil leaf waste meal. This study consisted of 4 treatments and 5 replicates: T0 (0% sweet basil leaf waste meal), T1 (1.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal), T2 (3% sweet basil leaf waste meal), and T3 (4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal).

Research procedures

The initial stage of the research procedure included the determination of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production in quail excreta. Fresh excreta samples (100 g) were collected from each experimental unit using clean gloves and a spatula, placed in labeled airtight containers, and immediately analyzed. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations were determined using modified methods based on SNI 19-7119.1-2005 and SNI 7119.11:2007, respectively. Each excreta sample (100 g) was placed in an Erlenmeyer flask and connected to a second Erlenmeyer flask containing 10 mL of absorbent solution through a tubing system equipped with an aerator. The closed system was incubated for 24 h to facilitate the transfer and absorption of gases released from the excreta into the absorbent solution. Following incubation, the absorbent solution was analyzed using a spectrophotometer at wavelengths of 630 nm for NH3 and 670 nm for H2S. Prior to sample analysis, calibration curves were prepared using standard solutions of known concentrations. The concentrations of NH3 and H2S were calculated from the absorbance values based on the respective calibration curves and expressed as parts per million (ppm). The physiological response parameters measured included oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Oxygen saturation was measured using a pulse oximeter according to the method of Jumadin et al. (2022). The sensor was placed on the plantar surface (footpad) of the quail under standardized handling conditions to minimize stress and movement artifacts, ensuring stable signal acquisition. Respiratory rate was obtained by counting chest movements for one minute. Rectal temperature was measured by inserting a digital thermometer into the quail’s rectum to a depth of ±1/3 of the thermometer’s length, as described by Hakim et al. (2021). Blood samples were taken for analysis of the quail’s hematological values. Production performance was monitored using feed consumption, egg production, feed conversion ratio, and mortality. Feed consumption was calculated as the difference between the daily feed intake and the remaining feed (g/bird/day). Egg production was calculated using the quail-day egg production method by dividing the total number of eggs produced by the total number of quail-days during the observation period and multiplying the result by 100. Egg weight was calculated by averaging the total egg weights. Feed conversion ratio was calculated by dividing feed consumption (g) divided by egg mass produced (g). Mortality was calculated by calculating the number of quails that died. Production performance was monitored from the first day to the end of the study period.

Research variables

The gas production in quail excreta was measured based on the concentrations of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Physiological responses were measured, including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Hematological values included erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte indices, namely Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), total leukocytes and differential leukocyte count (heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils). Production performance was monitored through feed consumption, egg production, feed conversion ratio and mortality.

Data analysis

Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25). Prior to analysis, data were tested for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test and for homogeneity of variance using Levene’s test. Data that met the assumptions were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). When a significant treatment effect was detected, mean comparisons were performed using Duncan’s multiple range test. Differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Temperature and humidity in quail cages

The environmental conditions observed during quail rearing included temperature and humidity. The results of these measurements are presented in Table 1. Temperatures from morning to evening was above the poultry comfort zone. According to Rini et al. (2019), the optimum humidity for quail is 50–70%. Although morning relative humidity (78–85%) exceeded the optimum range for quail (50–70%), the ambient temperature during the same period was only slightly above the comfort zone (24.5–27.2°C). Therefore, the negative effect of high humidity on evaporative heat loss through panting may have been limited during the morning period and likely less pronounced than under conditions of both high temperature and high humidity. Consequently, the ability of quails to dissipate body heat through panting was likely not severely compromised during the morning period. High environmental temperatures trigger heat stress, characterized by panting. This heat stress can progress to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when the number of free radicals exceeds the body’s antioxidant capacity (Maheshwari et al., 2017). Treatment measures are needed, including administering sweet basil leaf waste meal as a natural antioxidant to reduce the effects of this stress.

 

Table 1: Temperature and humidity in quail cages.

Parameters	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Temperature (°C)	24.5-27.2	30.4-32.7	26.6-32.0
Humidity (%)	78-85	60-73	54-79

 

Phytochemical and nutritional analysis of sweet basil leaf waste

The phytochemical and proximate composition of sweet basil leaf waste meal was quantitatively analyzed. The results of the phytochemical analysis in Table 2 indicate that sweet basil leaf waste meal contains bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolics, and tannins. The phenolic content was the highest. Flavonoids are compounds derived from polyphenols (Hussain et al., 2022). Phenolic compounds primarily enhanced the physiological responses of quail through their antioxidant properties. Flavonoids had antioxidant properties and the potential to inhibit bacterial growth (Salim et al., 2018). Flavonoids may contribute to maintaining immune function and physiological status in quail. Tannins have antioxidant properties and the ability to scavenge free radicals (Fraga-Corral et al., 2021). The reduction in NH₃ and H₂S production may be associated with the combined effects of bioactive compounds present in sweet basil leaf waste meal, including phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the reduction in gas emissions were not investigated in the present study.

 

Table 2: Results of phytochemical analysis of sweet basil leaf waste.

Components	Results (%)
Flavonoids	0.64
Phenolics	5.38
Tannins	0.05

 

Table 3: Nutritional content of sweet basil leaf waste meal.

Components	Results
Protein (%)	14.50
Crude Fiber (%)	13.80
Water (%)	11.30
Ash (%)	12.92
Fat (%)	3.61
Fe (mg 100 g-1)	29.00

 

The nutritional content of sweet basil leaf waste meal is presented in Table 3. The protein content of sweet basil leaf waste meal was quite high at 14.50%, suggesting it would increase the protein content of the feed. The fiber content in sweet basil leaf waste meal reached 13.80%. Crude fiber cannot be digested by poultry (Kheravii et al., 2018). This condition is caused by the absence of the cellulase enzyme, which degrades cellulose components (Prawitasari et al., 2012). Therefore, the amount and proportion of sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed must be regulated appropriately to avoid disrupting the health and productivity of quail. Sweet basil leaf waste meal contained 29 mg/100 g Fe. This Fe content may contribute to hemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis, thereby improving oxygen transport capacity and supporting the physiological and hematological status of quail (Feijo et al., 2024).

Gas emission

Data on NH3 and H2S production in quail excreta are presented in Table 4. The results of the study showed that the provision of sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed had a significant effect (p<0.05) on NH3 production in quail excreta. Treatments T2 and T3 did not differ significantly, but both were significantly different from the control treatment (T0). NH3 is a gas resulting from the decomposition of nitrogenous waste materials in excreta such as unabsorbed protein (Bist et al., 2023). The higher the undigested protein content, the higher the NH3 concentration. This finding aligns with previous research that reported that the addition of 9 g/kg of moringa leaf meal significantly reduced ammonia levels (p<0.05) in broiler chickens (Amin et al., 2022). The reduction in NH3 production observed in the present study may be attributed to the tannin content of sweet basil leaves. Previous studies have suggested that tannins can form complexes with proteins and may contribute to the suppression of proteolytic and urease-producing microorganisms in the digestive tract and excreta (Adamczyk et al., 2017; Besharati et al., 2022). This mechanism may reduce protein degradation and the conversion of nitrogenous compounds into ammonia, thereby decreasing NH3 production (Vazifehkhoran et al., 2024). In the present study, the lack of effect at 1.5% and the significant reductions at 3% and 4.5% suggest a possible threshold response, where the lower dose was insufficient to influence NH₃ formation, while higher levels were effective. The results showed that the addition of sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed had

 

Table 4: Mean gas emission in the excreta of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed.

Parameters	T0	T1	T2	T3
NH3 (ppm)	130,21 ± 1,47b	129,04 ± 1,31b	100,07 ± 2,36a	99,07 ± 2,71a
H2S (ppm)	0,073 ± 0,013b	0,023 ± 0,002a	0,020 ± 0,007a	0,018 ± 0,004a

 

Note: Different superscripts on the same row indicate significant differences (p<0.05); T0: without sweet basil leaf waste meal (control); T1: 1.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T2: 3% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T3: 4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal.

 

a significant effect (p<0.05) on H2S production in quail excreta. Treatments T1, T2, and T3 were significantly different from the control treatment (T0), indicating that the addition of sweet basil leaf waste meal significantly reduced the accumulation of harmful gases in quail excreta. H2S is the result of the breakdown of sulfur-containing amino acids contained in excreta (Tran et al., 2023). Sulfur is primarily found in cysteine and methionine. Adding sweet basil leaf waste meal to quail feed increases nutrient absorption efficiency. The amount of undigested amino acids excreted through excreta is reduced (Hossain et al., 2024). In addition, tannins possess antimicrobial properties that can suppress the growth of putrefactive microorganisms involved in the decomposition of sulfur-containing amino acids (Cao et al., 2024). This condition reduces H₂S formation during the fermentation of excreta. As a result, NH3 and H2S production from the excreta of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal were lower. Therefore, reduction in NH3 and H2S production observed in the excreta of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal indicates a lower generation of noxious gases. The tannin content, which may inhibit protein degradation and the activity of gas-producing microorganisms, is likely one of the factors contributing to the reduction in NH3 and H2S production. The decreased production of these gases may also reduce their potential release into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to improved air quality in poultry production environments. From a practical perspective, these findings suggest that sweet basil leaf waste meal could be used as a feed additive to reduce NH3 and H2S production while providing a value-added use for an underutilized agricultural by-product in quail production systems.

Physiological responses

The results of observations of the physiological responses of quail are presented in Table 5. The supplementation of sweet basil leaf waste meal in quail feed had no significant effect on oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and rectal temperature (p>0.05). Although dietary sweet basil leaf waste meal did not significantly affect oxygen saturation, numerically higher mean oxygen saturation values were observed in T1 and particularly in T2 compared with the control. Oxygen saturation increased from 87.74% in T0 to 92.90% in T2, whereas a slight decrease was observed in T3. This numerical trend may suggest a potential improvement in blood oxygenation at the moderate inclusion level of sweet basil leaf waste meal. The observed tendency could be partly related to the Fe content of sweet basil leaf waste meal, as Fe is essential for hemoglobin synthesis and oxygen transport (Morgan et al., 2026). According to Abu et al. (2024), oxygen saturation below 90% indicates hypoxemia. Accordingly, the mean oxygen saturation values in T1 and T2 exceeded this threshold, whereas the mean value of the control group remained below it. However, because these differences were not statistically significant, the observed numerical trend should be interpreted with caution. The respiratory rate of the quail in this study was above the normal range. The average respiratory rate in this study ranged from 48 to 51 breaths/minute. This result is above the normal range. The normal respiratory rate in poultry is 20-30 breaths/minute (Iftitah et al., 2022). The high respiratory rate was caused by the environmental temperature conditions being above the quail’s comfort zone. Panting is the primary mechanism for evaporative heat loss through the respiratory tract when the ambient temperature rises (Aryani et al., 2021). Although respiratory rate remained relatively high in all treatments, rectal temperature was maintained within the normal physiological range, suggesting that panting contributed to thermoregulation under heat exposure. The numerically higher oxygen saturation observed in T2 was not accompanied by a statistically significant reduction in respiratory rate, indicating that the improved oxygen saturation did not result in measurable changes in respiratory rate under the conditions of this study. Observations of rectal temperatures showed that all treatment groups remained within the normal physiological range for quail, which is around 40 °C to 41°C. Despite the high ambient temperatures during the experimental period, rectal temperature remained within this range, while respiratory rate was relatively high (48.0–51.0 breaths/min). These findings suggest that the quails maintained body temperature through panting, the primary thermoregulatory mechanism in birds. Therefore, the normal rectal temperature observed in this study likely reflects successful thermoregulation rather than the absence of thermal challenge.

 

Table 5: Mean oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed.

Parameters	T0	T1	T2	T3
Oxygen Saturation (%)	87,74 ± 7,42	90,64 ± 5,64	92,90 ± 4,59	89,50 ± 1,12
Respiratory Rate (bird/minute)	51,0 ± 3,52	48,5 ± 2,54	48,0 ± 2,21	50,0 ± 3,11
Rectal Temperature (°C)	40,71 ± 0,38	40,67 ± 0,21	40,84 ± 0,31	40,85 ± 0,46

 

Note: T0: without sweet basil leaf waste meal (control); T1: 1.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T2: 3% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T3: 4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal.

 

Hematological values

The results of observations of quail hematological values are presented in Table 6. Dietary supplementation with sweet basil leaf waste meal had no significant effect on any hematological parameters (p > 0.05). The observed hematological values include erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte indices, leukocyte counts, and differential leukocyte count. Higher levels of sweet basil leaf waste meal increased the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations, and increased the erythrocyte indices (MCV, MCH and MCHC). The average leukocyte count was in the normal range, namely 17.20-22.91×103/mm3. The average percentages of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were within the normal range. Erythrocytes are the main type of blood cell that function in the transfer of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body (Kuhn et al., 2017). Increasing the level of sweet basil leaf waste meal in the feed increased the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit, and maintained them within the normal range. The Fe content in sweet basil leaf waste meal may contribute to hemoglobin synthesis and erythropoiesis, thereby enhancing oxygen transport capacity in quail (Morgan et al., 2026). An increase in hematocrit indicates an increase in erythrocyte size. This condition helps red blood cells maximize their function of carrying oxygen to cells and carbon dioxide from cells to the lungs, thus improving metabolic processes (Zoneff et al., 2024). Increasing the level of sweet basil leaf waste meal in quail feed has been shown to increase erythrocyte indices, including MCV, MCH, and MCHC. Leukocytes are blood components that play a role in the body’s immune system. The average leukocyte count in this study was within the normal range, namely 17.20-22.91x103/mm3 (Agustono et al., 2025), indicating that leukocytes have the same potential in maintaining body immunity. The results showed that the average percentage of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils was within the normal range, indicating that the health status and immune system of the quail were not affected by the addition of sweet basil leaf waste meal. The relatively large standard deviation values observed for several hematological parameters suggest substantial individual variation among birds, which may have reduced the statistical power to detect significant treatment effects. Thus, it can be concluded that supplementation with sweet basil leaf waste meal to this level is safe and does not have a negative impact on the physiological performance of the quail.

 

Table 6: Hematological values of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed.

Parameters	T0	T1	T2	T3
Erythrocytes (106/mm3)	2,82 ± 0,72	2,64 ± 1,11	2,78 ± 0,41	3,12 ± 1,16
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	8,42 ± 2,21	9,30 ± 3,08	9,78 ± 3,83	10,42 ± 3,99
Hematocrit (%)	33,29 ± 6,40	33,30 ± 12,57	34,07 ± 6,72	41,62 ± 16,23
Erythrocytes index
MCV (fL)	123,56 ± 11,07	129,04 ± 15,93	129,54 ± 7,39	132,64 ± 6,26
MCH (Pg)	33,24 ± 3,21	36,66 ± 4,17	37,38 ± 4,01	33,48 ± 1,92
MCHC (g/dL)	27,37 ± 1,25	28,48 ± 2,33	28,78 ± 1,87	25,18 ± 0,88
Leukocytes (103/mm3)	22,74 ± 10,27	17,64 ± 2,09	18,14 ± 4,50	18,32 ± 5,24
Differential Leukocyte Count
Heterophils (%)	28,40 ± 13,16	26,60 ± 8,73	27,80 ± 14,45	26,40 ± 15,22
Lymphocytes (%)	62,60 ± 20,68	65,60 ± 10,09	63,40 ± 16,61	63,00 ± 16,26
Monocytes (%)	2.80 ± 0.84	4.00 ± 1.58	4.60 ± 2.17	5.20 ± 3.90
Eosinophils (%)	6,20 ± 8,29	3,80 ± 1,95	4,20 ± 2,28	5,40 ± 4,11
Basophils (%)	ND	ND	ND	ND

 

Note: T0: without sweet basil leaf waste meal (control); T1: 1.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T2: 3% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T3: 4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal; ND: Not Detected.

 

Table 7: Production performance of quail supplemented with sweet basil leaf waste meal in feed.

Parameters	T0	T1	T2	T3
Feed intake (g/bird/day)	24,85 ± 1,63	24,32 ± 2,23	24,22 ± 0,97	24,58 ± 1,65
Egg production (%)	67,92 ± 7,93	62,03 ± 9,15	67,40 ± 6,87	77,35 ± 8,45
Egg weight (g/egg)	10,75 ± 0,37	10,85 ± 0,35	11,10 ± 0,38	10,78 ± 0,28
Feed conversion ratio	2,31 ± 0,17	2,24 ± 0,15	2,18 ± 0,08	2,28 ± 0,15
Mortality (%)	0	0	0	0

 

Note: T0: without sweet basil leaf waste meal (control); T1: 1.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T2: 3% sweet basil leaf waste meal; T3: 4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal.

 

Production performance

The results of observations of quail production performance are presented in Table 7. Parameters observed included feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, and mortality. Dietary sweet basil leaf waste meal had no significant effect on feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio and mortality (p>0.05). Mean values were similar across treatments, although T2 tended to produce slightly heavier eggs. The lowest feed conversion ratio value (best efficiency) was found in T2. All treatment groups had 0% mortality rate during maintenance. Average feed consumption was relatively uniform across all treatments. According to Fadhila et al. (2023), feed consumption is influenced by quail age, environmental temperature, and metabolizable energy in the feed. The consistent energy content and ambient temperature in this study resulted in consistent feed consumption. The T3 treatment showed slightly higher average egg production than the other treatments. Adding sweet basil leaf waste meal increased the feed protein content. Protein is an essential macronutrient in the growth process, providing amino acids to support tissue growth (Xiong et al., 2023). Sweet basil leaf bioactive compounds have the potential to suppress oxidative stress and support reproductive function, thereby improving production performance. The relatively small difference in egg weight indicates that adding sweet basil leaves did not significantly affect egg size. Treatment T2 tended to produce slightly higher egg weights than the other treatments. A lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) reflects greater feed utilization efficiency (Yi et al., 2018). In the present study, treatment T2 exhibited the lowest FCR among all treatments (2.18), representing an approximately 5.6% improvement compared with the control group (2.31). Although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05), the numerical reduction suggests improved feed utilization efficiency for egg production. Improved feed utilization efficiency has the potential to reduce feed costs and increase profitability for farmers, as feed represents the largest component of poultry production costs. All treatment groups showed zero mortality during rearing, confirming that the use of sweet basil leaf waste meal in quail feed is safe and does not negatively impact the health or survival of the birds.

CONCLUSIONS

Sweet basil leaf waste meal contains phytochemical compounds with reported antioxidant properties and may have potential as a functional feed ingredient. The supplementation of sweet basil leaf waste meal did not show significant effects on the physiological responses and production performance of quail. Supplementation with 3% and 4.5% sweet basil leaf waste meal (T2 and T3) significantly reduced NH₃ production in quail excreta compared with the control, whereas supplementation with 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% significantly reduced H₂S production in quail excreta. Future studies should focus on evaluating sweet basil leaf waste meal supplementation in poultry species other than quail, such as chickens and ducks, to determine the consistency of its effects on gas emission, physiological responses, and production performance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the BIMA Funding Program of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia under Contract No. 23317/IT3.D10/PT.01.03/P/B/2025.

Novelty Statement

This study demonstrates the potential of sweet basil leaf waste meal (Ocimum basilicum L.), an underutilized agricultural by-product, as a functional feed additive for laying quail to reduce NH₃ and H₂S production from excreta while maintaining physiological status and production performance under tropical rearing conditions. By integrating environmental, physiological, productive, and economic evaluations, this study provides a comprehensive assessment of sweet basil leaf waste meal as a sustainable waste-to-feed strategy for improving environmental sustainability in quail production

AUTHOR’S CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization and methodology: NU, MS, HM. Investigation, resources, and data curation: MS, W. Formal analysis, software and visualization: MS. Funding acquisition and supervision and writing review and editing: NU, HM. Writing original draft: MS, HM.

Generative AI and AI assisted technology statement

The authors declare that no generative AI and AI assisted technology was used in the creation of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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