Abstract
This trial was performed to determine the requirements of calcium for Japanese quails during the laying period. A hundred and five quails were distributed in seven treatments and three repetitions. The treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with limestone in order to produce seven calcium levels (2.95; 3.10; 3.25; 3.40; 3.55; 3.70 and 3.85%). The following variables were evaluated: feed intake (CR), egg production (PD), egg mass (MO), conversion per egg mass (CMO), conversion per egg dozen (CDO), egg weight (PO), the weights and percentages of yolk, albumen and shell, and specific gravity. Calcium levels in the diet had no effect on CR and CMO. On the other hand, there was quadratic effect on PD, MO and CDO, and the maximum levels for these variables were estimated with calcium levels of 3.45; 3.51 and 3.34%, respectively. PO increased linearly with calcium levels in the diet. A quadratic effect of calcium levels was seen on the specific gravity and on weight and percentage of albumen and yolk. Calcium levels of 3.51% are recommended for Japanese quails during the laying period in order to optimize performance indexes without affecting negatively the internal and external egg quality.
Highlights
O cálcio é um dos elementos mais abundantes no organismo, estando aproximadamente 99 % presente como constituinte dos ossos e o restante sendo de extrema importância para o metabolismo celular, ativação enzimática e ação neuromuscular (Ammerman et al, 1995)
Estudando diferentes níveis de Ca e P total, Shrivastav et al (1989) concluíram que os níveis de 2,8% de Ca e 0,70% de P proporcionaram os melhores resultados de desempenho produtivo e qualidade da casca
A review of quail nutrition research in India
Summary
O experimento foi conduzido no Setor de Avicultura do Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Campus II, Areia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Estado da Paraíba, utilizando-se codornas japonesas na fase de postura (46 a 130 dias de idade). Na fase pré-experimental, as aves receberam rações formuladas de acordo com as recomendações do NRC (1994). As aves receberam 24 horas de luz (natural e artificial) até a terceira semana de idade. A partir desta data até o início da postura, as aves foram mantidas em apenas luz natural para evitar a maturidade sexual precoce. Os dados de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar foram registrados três vezes ao dia, utilizando-se um termômetro de bulbo seco e bulbo úmido colocado no meio do galpão a 50 cm das gaiolas. A ração basal foi formulada de acordo com as recomendações do INRA (1999), exceto para o cálcio (Tabela 1)
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