Determination of metabolizable energy value of corn with different average geometric diameters for european quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix)

FOOD/FEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Determination of metabolizable energy value of corn with different average geometric diameters for european quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix)

Marcelo José de Mello Rezende^I,*; Alessandro Figueiredo Torres^II; Luci Sayori Murata^I; José Américo Soares Garcia^I; Concepta Margaret McManus^I

^IFaculdade de Agronomia e Veterinária; Universidade de Brasília; Campus Darcy Ribeiro; 70910-900; Brasília DF - Brasil

^IIMinistério da Agricultura Pecuária e Abastecimento; 70043-900; Brasília - DF - Brasil

ABSTRACT

Metabolizable energy (ME) of corn with different geometric diameters was determined in European quail with 26 days of age with 124 g of mean live weight, using the Total Collection of Excreta Method. One hundred and twenty five quails were divided in five treatments, five replications with five quails each, with one treatment used to determine endogenous losses. Values of Average Geometric Diameter (AGD) of the corn were 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 µm. ME of corn was not affected by AGD. Average values were 3079, 3274, 3300, 3137 Kcal/kg respectively for apparent metabolizable energy, corrected apparent metabolizable energy, true metabolizable energy, corrected true metabolizable energy.

Key word: metabolizable apparent energy, metabolizable true energy, particle size, total collections of excreta.

RESUMO

Determinou-se o valor de energia metabolizável (EM) do milho com diferentes diâmetros geométrico médio em codornas com 26 dias de idade e 124 g de peso médio, utilizando-se a metodologia da coleta total de excretas. Foram utilizadas 125 codornas distribuídas em cinco tratamentos com cinco repetições de cinco aves, sendo um tratamento para determinar as perdas endógenas. Os valores de diâmetro geométrico médio (DGM) do milho estudado foram 600, 800, 1000 e 1200 µm. O DGM não apresentou influência significativa sobre a EM do milho que apresentou valores médios de 3079, 3274, 3300, verdadeira, energia metabolizável verdadeira corrigida.

Palavras-chave: coleta total de excretas, energia metabolizável aparente, energia metabolizável verdadeira, tamanho da partícula.

INTRODUCTION

Corn makes up approximately 60 to 70% of poultry feed formularizations, having a considerable effect on the total cost of production. Therefore, the knowledge of the energy value and possible ways to reduce cost, such as in the milling process, can help in optimizing production.

The production of European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) has assumed world-wide importance in recent years, not only for its use in laboratories for avian research, but also commercial exploration for meat and egg production (Shirivastav, 2002). According to this author, to obtain maximum benefit in quail production, the supply of balanced diets are necessary to reduce costs and to supply all nutrients necessary in the proper ratios for optimum growth and production.

However, quail nutritional requirements are not known with the same precision as for commercial hens. The recommendations used for quails in countries with temperate climates cannot be directly applied to tropical countries. Blair et al. (1983) showed significant differences between nutritional requirements for hens in different regions of the world.

The metabolizable energy (ME) requirements for quails vary considerably among authors.mmendation is of 3138 Kcal/kg of ME for birds in growth and laying. Lepore and Marks (1971), cited by Shrivastav (2002), recommended for the initial and growth phases, values of 2600 and 2851Kcal/kg, respectively. A study developed with a quail strain selected for meat indicated a requirement of 2801 Kcal/kg of ME approximately (Shrivastav, 1990).

The present work was carried out to determine the ME value of corn with different average geometric diameters (AGD), through the method of total collection of excreta in European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The experiment was carried out at dependences of the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Brasilia (UnB). The Total Collection of Excreta Method was used. One hundred and twenty five 26 day old female quails with 124 g mean live weight were assigned in a completely randomized design to five treatments; with one group for the determination of endogenous losses. Five replications and five quails per experimental unit were used.

The experimental period was nine days, four days for adaptation to experimental diets and five days for the collection of excreta. Experimental diets were formulated in accordance with NRC (1994). The reference diet was used based on corn and soybean meal (Table 1), with the corn AGD (600, 800, 1000 and 1200 µm) beig the only source of variation. The AGD value of corn was taken after grinding and sifting, to attain desired AGD according to Zanotto et al. (1998).

A tray covered with plastic was installed under each cage to collect the excreted material during the experimental period. To determine the endogenous losses, the quails were fasted for 24 h. After this period the excreteted material was collected during a 48 h period.

Diets were offered ad libitum during the whole period of excreta collection. The ration was weighed before and after it was supplied, to determine consumption. Collections were carried out twice a day between 6 am and 6 pm. The excreta were collected individually in replicate, weighed and stored in plastic bags. Later, the material was frozen until processing.

The samples of excreta were homogeneized, a sample of each replicates taken and dried at 55ºC for 16 h by pre-heating and tests conducted to determine the Dry Matter (DM), Ether Extract (EE) and Crude Fiber (FB) content according to Silva (2002). Crude energy was determined using a PARR calorimeter. Values of Apparent Metabolizable Energy (AME) were calculated on the basis of analysis of results using the equations proposed by Matterson et al., (1965) and adjusted for the nitrogen retention, in accordance with the formula cited by Albino (1991).

The statistical analyses of data were carried out using Statistical Analyses System Program (SAS, 2000). The averages were then compared using Tukey's Test (P<0.05).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The corn showed 8.13% Crude Protein (CP), 4.53% Ether Extract, 2.50% Crude Fiber (CF), 85.44% Dry Matter (DM) and 3920 Kcal/kg Crude Energy (CE).

The means of CP, DM and CE of corn were lower than those presented by Rostagno (2005). However, the values of EE and CF were higher than those presented by the same author. This variation may be due to climate, soil, genetic variety of corn, fertilization used and corn processing.

Values of corn ME with different AGD, are presented in Table 2. The means of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of the corn varied from 2950 to 3268 Kcal/kg, and was inferior to those found by Furlan (1998) and Vilar da Silva (2003) who observed means of 3444 and 3340 Kcal/kg for Japanese quails, respectively. However, for the corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), the variation of values was from 3165 to 3445 Kcal/kg, close to those found by Furlan (1998) (3429 Kcal/kg). This difference may be explained by older quails (65 day old) used in that study. Rodrigues (2001) found values of AMEn that varied between 3028 and 3529 Kcal/kg for roosters and between 3419 and 3573 Kcal/kg for chickens, indicating variation between categories of birds.

TME values varied from 3170 to 3480 Kcal/kg for corn with 600 and 1200 µm of AGD, respectively. TMEn in this case varied between 3014 and 3313 Kcal/kg. These values are close to those of Nascimento (1998), who found 3340 Kcal/kg for TME when working with a Total Collection of Excreta in chickens of 23 days of age.

The results found here was lower than those found by Junior (1998) who worked with forced feeding methodology in cecotomized roosters, and found 4094 and 3937 Kcal/kg for TME and TMEn, respectively. These higher values may be explained by the fact that the author worked with adult animals that used the energy in foods more efficiently than young animals.

The size of corn particles did not modify (P>0.05) the ingestion and excretion of dry matter (Table 3). The mean consumption of dry matter (DM) obtained were 481, 465, 489 and 488 g, and excretion of DM were 125, 116, 120 and 119 g for diets with AGD of 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 µm, respectively. European quails in this study presented a dry matter digestibility coefficient (DMDC) between 74.01 and 75.61%.

CONCLUSION

Different average geometric diameters of corn may be used in the quail's diet formulation without modifying food intake and digestibility. Thus, among studied AGD, the cheapest should be used.

The variation observed in the metabolizable energy values of corn suggested that new studies should be carried out aiming at a better standardization of corn energy value for European quails.

Determinação dos Valores de Energia Metabolizável do Milho com Diferentes Diâmetros Geométrico Médio para Codornas Européias.

Received: July 26, 2006; Revised: June 28, 2007; Accepted: September 10, 2008.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Sept 2009
• Date of issue
  Aug 2009

History

• Reviewed
  28 June 2007
• Received
  26 July 2006
• Accepted
  10 Sept 2008