Response of Laying Japanese Quail to Dietary Calcium Levels at Two Levels of Energy

Dietary Wolffia arrhiza meal as a substitute for soybean meal: its effects on the productive performance and egg quality of laying Japanese quails

Wolffia arrhiza meal (WAM) was evaluated as a protein replacement for soybean meal (SBM) in the diet of laying Japanese quails. A total of 480 4-week-old laying quails were randomly allocated to form six groups in a completely randomized design. Each group contained four replicates, with 20 quails per replicate. WAM was incorporated into the diets at levels of 0, 4.00, 8.00, 12.0, 16.0 and 20.0%. The results showed that feed intake per bird per day, daily egg-laying rate, feed cost per 100 egg weight, egg width, egg length, egg weight, eggshell thickness, yolk height and shell quality characteristics in terms of breaking time, Young's modulus, work, maximum force, fracturability, breaking stress, stiffness and power showed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) among the 0 to 16.0% levels of WAM. However, these performance measures were significantly lower with 20.0% WAM in the formulated ration (P < 0.05). Mortality showed no significant differences among dietary treatments (P > 0.05). The color intensity of the yolk increased as SBM was replaced with increasing amounts of WAM (P < 0.05). In conclusion, WAM could be successfully used in place of SBM. However, the amount used should not exceed 16.0%.

Exigências nutricionais de codornas

As exigências nutricionais de codornas diferem das de frangos e de galinhas poedeiras. Igualmente, as exigências de codornas japonesas também são distintas das de codornas europeias. Codornas exigem mais proteína (aminoácidos), menos cálcio na ração e digerem melhor os aminoácidos dos alimentos em comparação e a energia de alimentos fibrosos. Esses animais ainda aproveitam a energia do milho e do farelo de soja na mesma proporção que os frangos. Da mesma forma que os frangos, as codornas exigem mais energia para mantença, quando alojadas no piso, e menos, quando submetidas às altas temperaturas ambiente. Conclui-se que rações formuladas para frangos e galinhas não devem ser usadas na alimentação de codornas europeias e japonesas.

Effect of dietary dried milky sludge on productive performance and egg quality in laying Japanese quails

ABSTRACT The experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of dried milky sludge (DMS) as a feed source for laying Japanese quails. The DMS was incorporated into the experimental diets at levels of 0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0%. Four hundred quails were used in a completely randomized design. The results revealed that the daily egg-laying rate, feed cost/100 egg weight, egg width, egg length, egg weight, shell quality characteristics in terms of breaking time, Young's modulus, work, max force, fracturability, breaking stress, stiffness and power, as well as color intensity and yolk height improved significantly with increasing levels of DMS in the diet (P < 0.05), while feed intake/bird/day, mortality and eggshell thickness showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). From this experiment, it was found that DMS incorporated into the experimental diet at the 20.0% level yielded the most productive performance and best egg quality.