Protein, methionine+cystine and lysine levels for Japanese quails during the production phase

An experiment was conducted at Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia/Unesp - Botucatu for 168 days to evaluate the effects of protein, Met + Cys and lysine diet levels on egg production and egg quality of laying Japanese quails. Quails with 42 days of age were reared in a completely randomized design. There were 1,944 quails distributed in four replicates of 27 birds per pen, according to a factorial 3x3x2 with three crude protein levels (16, 18 and 20% CP), three Met + Cys levels (0.700; 0.875 and 1.050%) and two lysine levels (1.100 and 1.375%). Birds fed diets with 18 and 20% CP had higher feed intake and egg production than those fed diets with 16% CP. There was significant interaction (p<0.05) between protein and Met + Cys levels on egg weight. There was no effects (p>0.05) of the protein level on feed conversion per dozen eggs; however, improved feed conversion per egg mass was seen for birds fed diets with 20% CP compared to those fed diets with 16% and 18% CP. Protein and lipid percentage in the yolk increased when dietary protein level increased from 16 to 18%. Increasing Met + Cys from 0.700% to 0.875% reduced yolk protein percentage. Higher lipid percentage in the yolk was seen in eggs from quails fed diets with 1.050% Met + Cys, whereas 1.375% lysine in the diet of resulted in decreased egg production and egg mass, besides poorer feed conversion per dozen eggs and per egg mass.

Effect of organic selenium and zinc on the performance and egg quality of Japanese quails

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic characterization of egg weight, egg production and age at first egg in quails

O objetivo neste estudo foi obter estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para as características peso do ovo, produção de ovos em 189 dias de postura e dia do primeiro ovo em codornas de três linhagens de postura e uma de corte. Os dados foram analisados por meio de procedimentos bayesianos usando amostragem de Gibbs. As estimativas de herdabilidade para peso do ovo, produção de ovos em 189 dias de postura e dia do primeiro ovo foram, respectivamente, para a linhagem amarela, 0,31; 0,84 e 0,53; azul, 0,14; 0,82 e 0,60; vermelha, 0,70; 0,96 e 0,75; e de corte, 0,73; 0,96 e 0,72. As correlações genéticas entre peso do ovo e produção de ovos em 189 dias de postura, peso do ovo e dia do primeiro ovo e, produção de ovos em 189 dias de postura e dia do primeiro ovo foram, para amarela, 0,58; -0,77; e -0,90; azul, 0,09; -0,01; e -0,95; vermelha, 0,09; 0,03; e -0,76; e de corte, -0,18; 0,19 e -0,91. A partir das probabilidades de superposição das distribuições posteriories dos parâmetros, as linhagens dividem-se em dois grupos distintos: um com as linhagens amarela e azul e outro com as linhagens vermelha e de corte.

Gluconeogenesis and glucose replacement rate during long-term fasting of Japanese quails

Gluconeogenic activity and kinetic parameters of glucose metabolism were estimated during the different phases of prolonged food deprivation in quails. Gluconeogenic activity, estimated from the rate of increase of incorporation of (HCO3-)-C-14 into circulating glucose, was significantly higher in fasted quails than in fed birds, whatever the period of food deprivation. However, gluconeogenic activity during phase II, although higher than in the fed state, was significantly lower than in quails fasted for 2 days (phase I) or in those on the final (phase III) period of starvation. Gluconeogenic activity did not differ significantly in birds from phases I and III. Rates of glucose replacement, estimated with [6-H-3]-glucose, were very high (20.5 mg . kg(-1). min(-1)) in fed quails and were markedly reduced (to about 42% of fed values) by fasting, no difference being observed between quails fasted for 2 and 5 days. Because of the poor condition of the birds, glucose replacement rates could not be measured during phase III. The present data are the first to provide direct evidence for the changes in gluconeogenesis which occur during prolonged food deprivation.

Metabolic adaptations induced by long-term fasting in quails

After up to 21 days without food, adult male quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) lost about 45% of the initial body weight (100-150 g). As in naturally fast-adapted and larger birds, three phases were identified during prolonged fasting in quails. Phase I lasted 2-3 days and was characterized by a rapid decrease in the rate of body weight loss and high fat mobilization. Phase II was longer and characterized by a slow and steady decline in the rates of body weight loss and of nitrogen excretion. The third (critical) period was marked by an abrupt increase in the rates of body weight loss and of nitrogen excretion. Despite their small size, the duration of phase II in quails was relatively long, a clear advantage for the study of the relationships between the several metabolic events that occur during this crucial adaptative period. Also, the beginning of phase III could be precisely determined. Changes in blood glucose, plasma FFA and triacylglycerols levels, as well as in liver and carcass lipid content were similar to those found in other species of birds. Therefore, quails seem to be a suitable model to investigate the biochemical mechanisms involved in the metabolic adjustments to prolonged food deprivation in non fasting-adapted birds. © 1995.

Experimental vaccination against Newcastle disease in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica): Clinical and immunological parameters

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Salmonella enteritidis in the eggs of Japanese quails (coturnix coturnix Japonica - Temminck & Schlegel, 1849) fed diets with different calcium and phosphorus levels

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of glycerol on GHR and IGF-1 gene expression in breast muscle and on growth of Japanese meat quails

We evaluated messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the growth-hormone (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) genes in 28-day-old Japanese meat quails fed diets containing 0, 8, or 12% dietary glycerol in substitution of corn. Total RNA was extracted from the breast muscle and the DNA was amplified with specific primers using real-time PCR. Feed conversion ratio and feed intake were evaluated. The birds fed 8 and 12% glycerol presented higher IGF-1 mRNA expression [0.059 and 0.049 arbitrary units (AU), respectively] relative to those not fed with glycerol (0.029 AU), while 12% glycerol reduced GHR mRNA expression (0.022 AU). Dietary inclusion of 8% glycerol promoted similar performance results (feed conversion) as the diet with no glycerol. We conclude that inclusion of glycerol in the diet affects GHR and IGF-1 gene expression in Japanese meat quails. However, considering the performance results and the expression of the GHR and IGF-1 genes, 8% glycerol may be safely included in the diet of meat quails. © FUNPEC-RP.

Salmonella spp. in meat-type quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Assessing Paternity in Japanese Quails (Coturnix Japonica) Using Microsatellite Markers - Inferences for Its Mating System and Reproductive Success

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of environmental temperature and electrolyte balance on the performance of quails (Coturnix Coturnix Coturnix)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Propagation of wild birds : a manual of applied ornithology : treating of practical methods of propagation of quails, grouse, wild turkey, pheasants, partridges, pigeons and doves, and waterfowl, in America, and of attracting and increasing wild birds in general, including sng-birds /

Includes index.

Microminerais orgânicos para codornas japonesas

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo e a qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas em postura, em função da redução e da substituição parcial ou total de microminerais (manganês, zinco, ferro, cobre, iodo e selênio) orgânicos em substituição ao micromineral inorgânico. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos no setor de avicultura do Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, com duração de 84 dias, distribuídos em quatro períodos de 21 dias. Em cada experimento, foram utilizadas 480 codornas japonesas fêmeas, com 79 dias de idade. As aves foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em 6 tratamentos, 10 repetições e 8 aves por unidade experimental. Foi utilizada uma mesma ração basal em ambos experimentos, variando apenas os níveis e a fonte dos microminerais utilizados. No primeiro experimento foi adicionado à essa ração cinco diferentes níveis de microminerais orgânicos 25; 50; 75; 100 e 125% da recomendação do complexo mineral orgânico e um nível com microminerais inorgânicos (100% da recomendação) sendo utilizado 1 kg/ton de ração. No segundo experimento, foram adicionados quatro diferentes níveis de mistura de microminerais orgânicos e inorgânicos (20% orgânico + 80% inorgânico, 40% orgânico + 60% inorgânico, 60% orgânico + 40% inorgânico e 80% orgânico + 20% inorgânico), um inorgânico (100%) e um orgânico (100%) na ração. As características avaliadas foram consumo de ração, taxa de postura, peso médio do ovo, massa dos ovos, conversão alimentar por massa do ovo e por dúzia de ovos, peso relativo e absoluto da gema, do albúmen e da casca, além da unidade Haugh. Os parâmetros avaliados não foram afetados de forma significativa pelas diferentes relações de uso de minerais orgânicos e inorgânicos. Observou-se que é possível reduzir para 25% da recomendação de microminerais, quando utiliza-se microminerais orgânicos e que, é possível a substituição em até 100% dos microminerais inorgânicos por orgânicos sem efeito sobre desempenho o produtivo e a qualidade de ovos de codornas japonesas.