Dietary energy and protein requirements of growing Japanese quails in the tropics

Abstract

Japanese quail chicks were fed with 9 each of starter and grower diets containing 240, 260 and 280 g of crude protein/kg from 0-3 weeks of age followed, respectively, by 180, 200 and 220 g of crude protein/kg from 4-6 weeks of age; with constant 10.04, 10.88 and 11.72 MJ of ME/kg diet during 0-6 weeks of age, in a 3 x 3 factorial experiment. Dietary crude protein levels of 280 and 200 g/kg were sufficient for optimal growth rate and feed efficiency during 0-3 and 4-6 weeks of age, respectively. While the lowest energy level of 10.04 MJ/kg gave a slightly higher body weight. The mortality rate appeared to be independent of the dietary ME levels. The dietary energy level had little effect all the ready-to-cook yield; while high protein levels (280-220 g/kg) had resulted in higher ready-to-cook yield. Dietary energy and protein levels, their interaction and sex of the quail had significant influence on carcass composition. Serum protein and total cholesterol levels were independent of the dietary protein and energy levels: however, these values were higher in females than in males.