Crude protein in diets for European quail (Coturnix coturnix)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary crude protein (CP) levels on the production performance, carcass traits and dietary nutrient metabolizability of European quail from one to 35 days of age. A total of 250 quail were allotted to one of five treatments (21, 22, 23, 24 and 25% CP) in a completely randomized experimental design with five replicates of 10 birds per plot. The following variables were evaluated: feed intake; weight gain; feed conversion; energy and protein intakes; weight and yield of carcass, cuts and edible offal; metabolizability coefficients (MC) of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and gross energy; and nitrogen intake, excretion, retention and metabolizability. Weight gain rose linearly (P 0.05) feed intake, weight gain or feed conversion from one to 35 days of age. Protein intake increased linearly (P < 0.05) in all evaluated periods. The absolute and relative weights of legs responded quadratically (P < 0.05). At 35 days of age, the absolute and relative weights of liver had decreased linearly (P < 0.05). In the metabolism trial, a linear decrease was observed (P < 0.05) for the MC of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen, whereas the MC of ether extract, nitrogen intake and nitrogen excretion increased linearly (P < 0.05). Diets with 21% CP are recommended for European quail from 1 to 35 days of age.