Metabolizable energy and digestible lysine requirements of growing Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) / Exigência de energia metabolizável e lisina digestível para codornas japonesas (Coturnix coturnix japonica) em crescimento

This study aimed to estimate metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible lysine (DL) requirements of Japanese quail in the starter (1 to 14 days) and grower (15 to 42 days) phases and investigate the influence of these dietary factors on body chemical composition, relative organ weights, and blood and bone parameters. The design was completely randomized with a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement (ME = 2830, 2970, 3110, and 3250 kcal × DL = 0.90%, 1.07%, 1.24%, and 1.41%), totaling 16 treatments, 3 replications per treatment, 50 birds per experimental unit in the starter phase (n = 2400 birds), and 35 birds per experimental unit in the grower phase (n = 1680 birds). In the starter phase, there was no interaction between factors on bird performance. Body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio had a quadratic response to ME and DL levels in starter diets. In this phase, there was an interaction effect on carcass ether extract content, femur Seedor index, and tibia Seedor index and a linear main effect of DL on the relative weight of the liver. In the grower phase, factors had a significant interaction effect on body weight gain and feed intake. Feed conversion ratio responded quadratically to both factors, and body weight, femur Seedor index, tibia Seedor index, and femur density were quadratically influenced by ME. Estimates derived from overlaid contour plots showed that Japanese quail require 3030 kcal ME and 1.221% DL in the starter phase and 3055 kcal ME and 1.202% DL in the grower phase.(AU)

Este trabalho objetivou estimar as exigências nutricionais de energia metabolizável (EM) e lisina digestível (LD) para codornas Japonesas nas fases de cria (1 a 14 dias) e recria (15 a 42 dias) e verificar suas implicações na composição química corporal, peso relativo dos órgãos, parâmetros sanguíneos e ósseos. O delineamento adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 (EM = 2.830, 2.970, 3.110 e 3.250 kcal x LD = 0,90; 1,07; 1,24 e 1,41%), perfazendo 16 tratamentos com 3 repetições cada, contendo 50 codornas por unidade experimental na fase de cria (totalizando 2.400 aves) e 35 codornas por unidade experimental na fase de recria (totalizando 1.680 aves). Não foi verificada interação entre os fatores sobre o desempenho de codornas Japonesas na fase de cria, sendo que as variáveis peso médio, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar apresentaram efeito quadrático tanto para EM quanto para LD. Nesta fase, o extrato etéreo da carcaça e o índice de Seedor do fêmur e da tíbia exibiram interação significativa, e o peso relativo do fígado apresentou efeito linear da LD. Na fase de recria houve interação dos fatores para ganho de peso e consumo de ração. A conversão alimentar apresentou efeito quadrático de ambos os fatores e o peso médio foi influenciado de modo quadrático pela EM, que também influenciou de modo quadrático o índice de Seedor nos dois ossos e a densidade óssea do fêmur. Considerando as estimativas obtidas por meio dos gráficos de contornos sobrepostos, os níveis de 3.030 kcal de EM e 1,221% de LD foram estimados para a fase de cria e os níveis de 3.055 kcal de EM e 1,202% de LD foram estimados para a fase de recria.(AU)

Requirement of digestible methionine + cystine for growing Japanese quail and its subsequent effects on laying phase

The objective of this study was to estimate the nutritional requirement of digestible methionine + cystine for Japanese quail during the growth phase and its residual effect on the laying phase. One experiment was conducted, including three phases: starter, from 1 to 14 days of age; grower, from 15 to 42 days of age; and laying, from 43 to 168 days of age. The experimental design was entirely randomized with five treatments (0.52, 0.64, 0.76, 0.88, and 1.00% of digestible methionine + cystine) and five replicates. In starter phase, 48 quail/experimental unit (box) were used; in grower phase, 31 quail/experimental unit (box) were used, which were reared until 14 days old, receiving conventional feed and, in laying phase, 12 quail/experimental unit were selected from grower phase to evaluate the residual effect. To evaluate animal performance, feed intake (g/bird), body weight (g), weight gain (g), feed conversion (g/g), and viability (%) were analyzed. At 14 and 42 days of age, the relative weight (%) of liver, spleen, and cloacal pouch organs, the birds' warping (%) and body chemical composition (%) were evaluated. During laying, performance and egg quality were evaluated. In the starter and grower stages, quadratic effects were observed for all performance variables. Laying performance results confirmed the estimates obtained in the grower phase; however, there was no effect on egg quality. Considering the best feed conversion, the nutritional recommendation of digestible methionine + cystine for Japanese quail in the starter phase is 0.85% and in the grower phase, it is 0.77%, corresponding to daily intake of 50.43 and 158.5 mg of digestible methionine + cystine/day, respectively.

Calcium and available phosphorus requirements of Japanese quails in early egg-laying stage.

An experiment was conducted to estimate the nutritional requirements of calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) for Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in the egg-laying stage (64-168 D). The experiment was an entirely randomized design, in a factorial scheme (Ca = 1.70, 2.40, 3.10, and 3.80% and aP = 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, and 0.60%), with 3 replicates and 10 quails per experimental unit. No interactions were found for quail body weight and daily feed intake (DFI) (P > 0.05). However, body weight decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the levels of Ca increased, whereas DFI exhibited a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) for both Ca and aP. The lowest values of DFI were estimated in 2.79 and 0.36% for Ca and aP, respectively. Egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio per egg dozen presented significant interaction in which all of them had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05), with estimations for maximum yield in feed containing 2.74, 2.71, 2.75, and 2.74% Ca and 0.40, 0.39, 0.39, and 0.40% aP. The concentration of Ca in the eggshell increased linearly as per the levels of Ca studied, having a quadratic effect for aP levels, with a maximum point of 0.44%. In relation to the bone parameters, there was a linear interaction for Ca and aP in bone density and bone resistance (BR) of the femur, with a quadratic effect in BD estimating 2.84 and 0.50% for Ca and aP, respectively. In BR, the estimation was 3.27% Ca, with linear increase for aP. The BR of the tibiotarso increased linearly as per the Ca levels, obtaining the same Ca concentration response in this bone. As conclusion, when considering the estimations obtained through overlapped contour plots, the best responses to the effects of Ca and aP on productive characteristics were estimated at 2.68% Ca and 0.38% aP to produce feed for egg-laying Japanese quails.

Estimation of growth parameters of body weight and body nutrient deposition in males and females of meat- and laying-type quail using the Gompertz model

The objective of this study was to estimate the growth parameters of body weight and body nutrient deposition in males and females of one meat- (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and two laying-type quail strains (Coturnix coturnix japonica), designated either yellow or red, using the Gompertz model. A total of 1350 quail from 1 to 42 days of age were used and they were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five replications for each strain. The parameters of body weight and body composition of the quail were analyzed weekly and evaluated using the Gompertz equation; growth rates and body nutrient deposition were evaluated through derivative equations. The three strains evaluated showed differences in their potential, growth rates, and body chemical composition. The composition up to 42 days of age was not sufficient to adjust the fat deposition data using Gompertz. Due to the period evaluated, the Gompertz model allowed to verify that females have higher body growth rates when compared with males of the same strains, with accelerated growth up to 14 and 21 days of age for males and females, respectively. Regarding the laying strain, the red has greater growth, with similar potential in depositing protein and water in the carcass, but they are more precocious in the deposition of these nutrients.(AU)

Vitamin K supplementation for meat quail in growth of 1 to 14 days old / Suplementação de vitamina K para codornas de corte de 1 a 14 dias de idade

The experiment was carried outto determine the levels of vitamin K for meat quails (Coturnixcoturnixsp) from 1 to 14 days of age. Atotal of 2200 birds were used, complete by random experimental design, with 8 treatments, 5 repetitions and 55 meat quails per experimental unit. The levels of vitamin K supplementation were 0; 0.7; 1.0; 1.3; 1.6; 1.9; 2.2; 2.5 mg/kg diets. The performance was measured through weighing weekly from the birds and feed, and at the end of the experiment was carried out collects blood and bones for the assessment of bone quality parameters. The levels of vitamin K supplementation had no influence on performance orbone quality, except thatthe bone density and calcium concentration of the femur and the bone density of the tibia showeda quadratic effect, with estimates of 0.98; 0.92 and 1.18 respectively. The length of the tibia showed a linear increase according to the levels of vitamin K. There was no effect in the concentration of serum calcium, but there was a quadratic effect in the concentration of alkaline phosphatase. The vitamin K supplementation did not affect the performance of the meat quails from 1 to 14 days of age, showing that the amount of vitamin K present in ground corn and soybean meal-based diets is sufficient to meet the needs of the birds performance.(AU)

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de determinar os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K para codornas de corte (Coturnix coturnix sp) de 1 a 14 dias de idade. Foi utilizado um total de 2.200 aves distruibuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 8 tratamentos, 5 repetições e 55 animais por unidade experimental. Os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K utilizados foram: 0; 0,7; 1,0; 1,3; 1,6; 1,9; 2,2; 2,5 mg/kg de ração. Para realização do desempenho zootécnico as aves e rações foram pesadas semanalmente, e ao final do experimento foi realizado a coleta de sangue e de ossos para a avaliação de parâmetros relacionados a qualidade óssea. Não foram verificados efeitos (dos níveis de suplementação de vitamina K sobre o desempenho e parâmetros ósseos, exceto para a densidade óssea do fêmur, a concentração de cálcio do fêmur e na densidade óssea da tíbia que apresentaram efeito quadrático, com estimativas de 0,98; 0,92 e 1,18 mg kg-1 de ração, respectivamente. O comprimento da tíbia teve aumento linear de acordo com os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K. Não houve efeito na concentração de cálcio no soro, porém, houve efeito quadrático (P<0,05) na concentração de fosfatase alcalina. A suplementação de vitamina K não afetou o desempenho de codornas de corte de 1 a 14 dias de idade, mostrando que a quantidade de vitamina K presente em rações a base de milho e farelo de soja é suficiente para atender às necessidades de desempenho das codornas.(AU)

Vitamin K supplementation for meat quail in growth of 1 to 14 days old / Suplementação de vitamina K para codornas de corte de 1 a 14 dias de idade

The experiment was carried outto determine the levels of vitamin K for meat quails (Coturnixcoturnixsp) from 1 to 14 days of age. Atotal of 2200 birds were used, complete by random experimental design, with 8 treatments, 5 repetitions and 55 meat quails per experimental unit. The levels of vitamin K supplementation were 0; 0.7; 1.0; 1.3; 1.6; 1.9; 2.2; 2.5 mg/kg diets. The performance was measured through weighing weekly from the birds and feed, and at the end of the experiment was carried out collects blood and bones for the assessment of bone quality parameters. The levels of vitamin K supplementation had no influence on performance orbone quality, except thatthe bone density and calcium concentration of the femur and the bone density of the tibia showeda quadratic effect, with estimates of 0.98; 0.92 and 1.18 respectively. The length of the tibia showed a linear increase according to the levels of vitamin K. There was no effect in the concentration of serum calcium, but there was a quadratic effect in the concentration of alkaline phosphatase. The vitamin K supplementation did not affect the performance of the meat quails from 1 to 14 days of age, showing that the amount of vitamin K present in ground corn and soybean meal-based diets is sufficient to meet the needs of the birds’ performance.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de determinar os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K para codornas de corte (Coturnix coturnix sp) de 1 a 14 dias de idade. Foi utilizado um total de 2.200 aves distruibuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 8 tratamentos, 5 repetições e 55 animais por unidade experimental. Os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K utilizados foram: 0; 0,7; 1,0; 1,3; 1,6; 1,9; 2,2; 2,5 mg/kg de ração. Para realização do desempenho zootécnico as aves e rações foram pesadas semanalmente, e ao final do experimento foi realizado a coleta de sangue e de ossos para a avaliação de parâmetros relacionados a qualidade óssea. Não foram verificados efeitos (dos níveis de suplementação de vitamina K sobre o desempenho e parâmetros ósseos, exceto para a densidade óssea do fêmur, a concentração de cálcio do fêmur e na densidade óssea da tíbia que apresentaram efeito quadrático, com estimativas de 0,98; 0,92 e 1,18 mg kg-1 de ração, respectivamente. O comprimento da tíbia teve aumento linear de acordo com os níveis de suplementação de vitamina K. Não houve efeito na concentração de cálcio no soro, porém, houve efeito quadrático (P<0,05) na concentração de fosfatase alcalina. A suplementação de vitamina K não afetou o desempenho de codornas de corte de 1 a 14 dias de idade, mostrando que a quantidade de vitamina K presente em rações a base de milho e farelo de soja é suficiente para atender às necessidades de desempenho das codornas.