Abstract
Currently, feed formulations for quail are based on foreign data or data from other species; this undermines productivity with the use of excessive or deficient levels of some nutrients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional requirement levels of calcium (Ca) and supplementation vitamin D in meat-type quail from 1 to 14 d of age. The experiment was a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments (levels of Ca: 0.42, 0.58, 0.74 and 0.90% and levels of vitamin D: 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 IU) with 3 replicate pens and 43 quails per pen. Weight gain increased quadratically with increased levels of Ca and vitamin D; this variable yielded estimated levels of 0.73% Ca and 2,883 IU vitamin D. There was no Ca x vitamin D interaction effect on bone variables. Bone Ca, bone phosphorus, bone ash, femoral bone strength, tibial bone strength and the femoral Seedor index increased quadratically with an increase in Ca levels. These variables yielded estimated values of 0.78, 0.71, 0.78, 0.77, 0.83, and 0.71% Ca, respectively. It is concluded that the requirements of Ca and vitamin D for the maximum weight gain of meat-type quails, in the period from one to 14 days of age, were 0.73% Ca (p=0.001) and 2,883 IU vitamin D (p=0.02), respectively.
Highlights
Brazil is the second largest worldwide producer of quail eggs and one of the foremost meat producers after the introduction and expansion of the European species population. This may be due to the low initial investment and the fast return on investment associated with quail production (Silva et al, 2009)
The most important portion of the studies that evaluate calcium and vitamin D levels target the egg production phases, as these have a huge influence on the nutrients of egg formation
The response surface model is a powerful model compared to other experimental models of nutritional requirements
Summary
Brazil is the second largest worldwide producer of quail eggs and one of the foremost meat producers after the introduction and expansion of the European species population. This may be due to the low initial investment and the fast return on investment associated with quail production (Silva et al, 2009). There is a lack of scientific results regarding the production and especially the nutrition of these birds. There is a current lack of information that can be used to estimate the optimum supplementation levels during the initial stage, when these nutrients play a fundamental role in bone metabolism and production
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