Abstract: 【Objective】 In this experiment, the effects of different manganese levels in pigeon diets on egg quality and squab weight, slaughter performance, meat quality and serum antioxidant indexes were investigated through the addition of exogenous manganese preparation (MnSO₄·H₂O) to provide experimental references for pigeon farming in China. 【Method】 One hundred and twenty pairs of healthy, adult Silver King pigeons of similar body weight and laying performance were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with eight replicates per group, each replicate containing three pairs of pigeons, and each pair of pigeons rearing two squabs. These five groups used a basal diet without additional manganese (control group) and experimental diets with 35, 70, 105 and 140 mg/kg manganese added to the basal diet, respectively. The ration was fed to the pigeons in the form of pellets. The test period consisted of an incubation period of 18 days and a lactation period of 28 days, for a total of 46 days. During the experiment, the feed intake of adult pigeons and the weight of squabs were recorded, and the average daily feed intake of adult pigeons and the average daily gain of squabs were calculated. The pigeon eggs, serum from breeding pigeons and 28-day-old squabs, breast muscle, heart and liver samples from squabs were collected for the measurement of the quality of pigeon eggs, serum antioxidant index, the meat quality and manganese content in the breast muscle of squabs, and the slaughtering performance of 28-day-old squabs was calculated. 【Result】 ① The eggshell weight of pigeon eggs in 70 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups was significantly higher than that in 35 and 105 mg/kg manganese groups (P＜0.05). The yolk color value of pigeon eggs in 70 and 105 mg/kg manganese groups was significantly higher than that in control and 35 mg/kg manganese groups (P＜0.05). The HU value of pigeon eggs in 35 mg/kg manganese group was significantly lower than that in other groups (P＜0.05). The eggshell reflectance in 70, 105 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups were significantly lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). ② The average daily gain of squabs aged 1 to 28 days in 35 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups was significantly lower than that in control group (P＜0.05). ③ The slaughter rate of 28-day-old squabs in 35 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups was significantly higher than that in control group (P＜0.05). The evisceration rate of 28-day-old squabs in 35, 105 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups was significantly higher than that in control group (P＜0.05). The semi-evisceration rate of 28-day-old squabs in 35 mg/kg manganese group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P＜0.05). ④ There were no significant differences in breast muscle meat quality and manganese content in breast muscle, myocardium and liver of 28-day-old squabs among all groups (P＞0.05). ⑤ The serum catalase activity of 28-day-old squabs in 35 and 140 mg/kg manganese groups were significantly lower than that in other groups (P＜0.05). 【Conclusion】 The addition of 35 mg/kg manganese in the basal diet of breeding pigeons could improve the slaughter rate, full evisceration rate and half evisceration rate of 28-day-old squabs. The addition of an additional 70 mg/kg manganese could improve the egg shell quality and deepen the yolk color.

Key words: manganese; breeding pigeon; squabs; egg quality; meat quality