ABSTRACT 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.

Abstract An experiment was carried out with Japanese quails in the initial laying phase, from 43 to 168 days of age, to determine the nutritional requirement of digestible methionine + cystine for this period. 375 quails were used, being fifteen quails used per experimental unit. A total of 5 treatments (0.60, 0.75, 0.90, 1.05 and 1.20% digestible methionine + cystine) were used in a completely randomized design with 5 replicates each. The performance parameters evaluated were feed intake (g / bird), body weight (g), egg weight (g), laying rate (%), egg mass (g eggs.bird.day-1), feed conversion by mass and dozen eggs (g.g-1 of eggs, g.dz-1 of eggs), viability (%) and the body chemical composition (%). The egg quality parameters were: % of component (yolk, albumen and shell relative to egg weight), specific gravity (g mL-1), Haugh unit, yolk index, shell weight per surface area and thickness of the shell (mm). Quadratic effect was found on the performance parameters evaluated (P<0.05), except for age at first egg and viability with linear effect. Regarding egg quality, no significant effect was observed on the variables tested (P>0.05). The nutritional recommendation of digestible methionine + cystine for Japanese quails at laying phase is 0.90% from the maximum point obtained for the egg mass, egg weight and laying rate, corresponding to daily intake of 241.54 mg of digestible methionine + cystine / day, respectively.

Resumo Foi desenvolvido um experimento com codornas japonesas na fase inicial de postura, de 43 a 168 dias de idade, com o objetivo de determinar a exigência nutricional de metionina + cistina digestível para este período. Foram utilizadas 375 codornas, sendo 15 aves por unidade experimental. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado (DIC) totalizando 5 tratamentos (0,60; 0,75; 0,90; 1,05 e 1,20 % de metionina + cistina digestível) com 5 repetições cada. As variáveis de desempenho avaliadas foram, consumo de ração (g/ave), peso corporal (g), peso do ovo (g), taxa de postura (%), produção de massa de ovos (g ovos.ave. dia-1), conversão alimentar por massa e dúzia de ovos (g.g-1 de ovos, g.dz-1 de ovos), viabilidade (%) e a composição química corporal (%). As variáveis de qualidade dos ovos foram, percentagem do componente (gema, albúmen e casca em relação ao peso do ovo), gravidade específica (g mL.-1), unidade Haugh, índice de gema e peso da casca por superfície de área. Foi encontrado efeito quadrático sobre as variáveis de desempenho avaliadas (P<0,05), exceto para idade ao primeiro ovo e viabilidade que apresentaram efeito linear. Em relação à qualidade dos ovos, não foi observado efeito significativo sobre as variáveis testadas (P>0,05). A recomendação nutricional de metionina + cistina digestível para codornas japonesas na fase de postura é de 0,90% a partir do ponto de máxima obtido para as variáveis massa de ovos, peso de ovos e taxa de postura, correspondendo ao consumo diário de 241,54 mg de metionina + cistina digestível / dia, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT 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.

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine the required levels of supplementary vitamin D and calcium in meat-type quail (Coturnix coturnix sp) between 15 and 35 days old. The experiment was a 4 × 4 factorial design with four levels of calcium: 0.42, 0.58, 0.74, and 0.90% and four levels of vitamin D: 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; and 4,000 IU. Body weight and body weight gain increased linearly and feed conversion showed some linear improvement due to increased levels of Ca and vitamin D. The increased vitamin D levels resulted in a linear increase in feed intake. Calcium and vitamin D requirements in meat-type quail between 15 and 35 days of age is greater or equal to 0.90% Ca and greater or equal to 4,000 IU of vitamin D, probably because the experiment was conducted during the pre-laying phase.

Desempeño y rendimiento en carcasa y piezas de tres diferentes líneas de codornices

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and yield of the carcass and parts (wing, thigh and drumstick, back and chest) of males and females of a meat-type quail strain (Coturnix coturnix sp.) and two strains of laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) called yellow and red. 1350 birds were used, one to 42 days of age, distributed in a completely randomized design, with five repetitions for each line. The birds were fed ad libitum with diets formulated to meet its nutritional requirements. The performance was evaluated weekly and the parts and carcass yield at 35 and 42 days of age. The meat-type strain showed higher body weight, average weight gain, feed conversion, biomass accumulated body of a 14 day of age carcass yield at 35 days and chest at 35 and 42 days. Among the laying quails, red obtained better results for weight gain, feed conversion and yield wing after 42 days of age. The gender effect was observed for yield wing and back to 35 days of age to 42 days and breast. It is verifi ed that the three evaluated quail strains showed higher body accumulated biomass and better feed conversion within one to 14 days of age demonstrating higher growth effi ciency during this period. Higher if there meat-type strain development capability, with better carcass yield at 35 days of age.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho e o rendimento da carcaça e partes (asa, coxa e sobrecoxa, dorso e peito) de machos e fêmeas de uma linhagem de codornas de corte (Coturnix coturnix sp.) e duas linhagens de codornas de postura (Coturnix coturnix japonica) denominadas amarela e vermelha. Foram utilizadas 1.350 aves, de um a 42 dias de idade, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições para cada linhagem. As aves foram alimentadas ad libitum com dietas formuladas para atender as suas exigências nutricionais. O desempenho foi avaliado semanalmente e o rendimento da carcaça e partes aos 35 e 42 dias de idade. A linhagem de corte apresentou maior peso vivo, ganho médio de peso, conversão alimentar, biomassa corporal acumulada de um a 14 dias de idade, rendimento de carcaça aos 35 dias e de peito aos 35 e 42 dias de idade. Dentre as codornas de postura, a vermelha obteve melhores resultados para ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e rendimento de asa aos 42 dias de idade. O efeito do sexo foi observado para o rendimento de asa e dorso aos 35 dias de idade e peito aos 42 dias. Foi verificado que as três linhagens de codornas avaliadas apresentaram maior biomassa corporal acumulada e melhor conversão alimentar no período de um a 14 dias de idade demonstrando maior eficiência de crescimento durante este período. Verificou-se maior capacidade de desenvolvimento da linhagem de corte, com melhor rendimento de carcaça aos 35 dias de idade.