Use of nutritional densification in meat quail feed
Strategy, European, Non-Ruminant, Levels
Nutrient densification is a strategy used to establish optimum levels and improve poultry performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of nutrient densities on the performance of cut quails from 8 to 21 days of age. Three hundred European quail were used, the diets were dense with levels of 95%, 97,5%, 100%, 102,5% and 105% of the requirements. The experimental design was completely randomized, being 5 treatments and 6 replicates, with 12 animals housed in each plot. A variance analysis was performed and then the data were submitted to regression analysis. There was an effect for the variables weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and feed efficiency. The data found in this research suggest that quails are more efficient in converting the ration consumed into product when under conditions of high nutritional densities. It is observed quadratic effect for weight gain decreasing linear effect for feed consumption, feed conversion and linear increase for feed efficiency of quails from 8 to 21 and from 8 to 42 days of age. An increase in the nutritional densification recommended by Silva & Costa (2009) of 100.72% for greater weight gain and 105% for higher feed intake, better conversion and weight gain is recommended for European quails at 8 to 42 days of age. the best feed efficiency of European quails at 8 to 42 days of age.