The objective was to evaluate the effects of the addition of organic chromium in the diet of Japanese quails in the initial fase of laying, under heat stress. Six hundred quails averaging 63 days old and initial body weight of 158.60 g on high temperature environment (32ºC) were used. Diets were based on corn and soybean meal, and supplemented with five levels of chromium (0, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppb), from chromium-methionine, in replacement with innert material. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 12 experimental units per treatment and ten birds in each experimental unit. The least significant level for Cr inclusion in the diet was obtained using the Willians test, at 5% significance level, on the following variables: egg production (total egg production, egg production by lodged bird and commercial egg production by lodged bird, egg weight), feed intake, feed conversion (by kg of egg and by dozen of egg) and egg mass. The level of 500 ppb increased the egg commercial production by lodged bird. Feed intake increased at 2000 ppb Cr. Other variables were not influenced by the different supplemental Cr levels. The results allow to conclude that 500 ppb of supplemental chromium, from chromium-methionine, was able to improve the egg commercial production of laying Japanese quail under heat stress.
Coturnix coturnix japonica; minerals; production; temperature
