SUMMARY
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the requirement of available phosphorus (aP) for meat quails in the growth phase (22 to 42 days old). A total of 650 birds were used, the levels of available phosphorus distributed in randomized block in a factorial design 5 x 2 (levels of aP x gender) with six replications of 13 birds per pen. The available phosphorus levels were studied: 0.11, 0.21, 0.31, 0.41 and 0.51%. We evaluated the feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, the amount of calcium, phosphorus and tibia ash of birds. No effect (p>0.05) interaction between the levels of aP and gender or the isolated effect of gender. It was found that aP levels only affected the body weight gain of quail (p≤0.05) by aP studied. Except tibia ash all bone variables were influenced for interaction (p≤0.01) among the factors and gender. For quail females recommended level of 0.51% available phosphorus in the diet, given the best results, and for males was not possible to recommend a level of available phosphorus.
bone growth; calcium; calcium:phosphorus ratio; minerals
