Influence of hatch pull time, protein, and methionine on bobwhite quail performance

Abstract

SUMMARY Limited information exists concerning management and nutritional requirements for commercially produced bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). In an experiment, we investigated the effects of delayed placement after hatching on livability and performance. Bobwhite quail eggs (n = 1,000) were placed into incubation on 2 consecutive days and all hatchlings were removed on d 25 and identified as either normal- (NP) or late (LP)-pull hatchlings. Normal-pull hatchlings (d 0) were significantly heavier compared with the LP hatchlings (6.95 vs. 6.15 g/bird). However, by 7 d of age, LP birds were significantly heavier than NP birds (17.60 vs. 15.31 g/bird). This effect carried through to d 28, where LP birds were significantly heavier than NP birds (85.54 vs. 81.85 g). Feed consumption was also significantly greater for the LP versus NP birds during the 28-d experimental period (173.5 vs. 167.0 g/bird, respectively). At 28 d of age, birds were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary regimens: 22% CP/0.50% Met; 22% CP + Met; 18% CP/0.41% Met; 18% CP + Met, resulting in an increased Met level of 0.12 and 0.09% for the 22 and 18% diets, respectively. No differences in BW, gain, feed consumption, or FCR occurred due to treatment. Based on qualitative feather scores obtained at termination of the experiment at 70 d of age, the 18% CP (without Met) group had a significantly lower score compared with the other treatments.