This study was developed to examine the effect of using charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals as calcium sources on the productive performance, carcass yield and bone parameters of meat quail. A total of 250 one-day-old non-sexed European quail were used. The birds were distributed into five treatments (calcium sources: calcitic lime, calcium carbonate, charru mussel shell meal, maçunim shell meal or oyster shell meal) in a completely randomized design with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated from one to 35 days. At 35 days, two birds with the average weight of the plot were slaughtered per plot and used for analysis of carcass yield and bone parameters. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield or tibia dry matter content, ash content and strength. The charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals can be used as calcium sources in the diet of European quail without affecting their productive performance, carcass yield or bone mineralization.

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutritional composition and effect of different levels of inclusion of wafer-type biscuit waste (WW) in the diet of European quail on production performance, carcass yield and economic viability. In the metabolizability trial, WW showed 87.45% DM, 4,128.53 kcal/kg GE, 3,833.14 kcal/kg AME, 3,818.92 kcal/kg AMEn, 9.37% CP and 17% EE. The metabolizability coefficients of DM, GE, EE and CP were 93.20, 92.85, 93.01 and 47.16%, respectively. In the performance trial, feed intake decreased linearly (P0.05) by WW inclusion. The WW inclusion levels did not influence (P>0.05) carcass yield. The diet with 20% inclusion of WW provided the best financial return. Wafer-type biscuit waste can be included up to the level of 20% in quail diets without compromising production performance, carcass yield or the economic viability of the activity.

Na coturnicultura, a alimentação é o fator que mais onera os custos da criação. Deste modo, estudos com alimentos alternativos, ao milho e farelo de soja, tem crescido consideravelmente. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar diferentes níveis do resíduo da polpa de maracujá (RPM) na alimentação de codornas fêmeas sobre características de carcaça aos 35 dias de idade. O experimento foi realizado no setor de coturnicultura do CECA-UFAL. Foram utilizadas 225 codornas europeias, em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos (0,0%; 3,0%; 6,0%; 9,0% e 12,0% de inclusão do RPM), cinco repetições e nove aves por unidade experimental. Aos 35 dias de idade, após jejum de seis horas, duas aves, com peso médio de cada unidade experimental foram abatidas, depenadas e evisceradas para os procedimentos de análises. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: pesos absolutos e relativos de carcaça, cortes nobres (peito e pernas) e vísceras comestíveis (coração, fígado e moela). Houve efeito significativo (p<0,05), apenas para peso absoluto (g) e relativo (%) do peito. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, é possível a inclusão do RPM, em até 12%, sem comprometer as características de carcaça, corte nobres e vísceras comestíveis, de codornas fêmeas aos 35 dias de idade.

Objective: Current quail production is configured as an economic activity in scale. Advancements in quail nutrition have been limited to areas such as breeding and, automation of facilities and ambience. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance responses, liver and oviduct morphometry, and liver histology of Japanese laying quails subjected to different levels of nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (MEn).Methods: A completely random design was used that consisted of nine levels of MEn, six replicates, and five hens per cage with a total of 270 quails. The experimental period lasted for 10 weeks. The variables of performance were subjected to analysis of variance and then regression analysis using the broken-line model. The morphometric and histological variables were subjected to multivariate exploratory techniques.Results: The MEn levels influenced the responses to zootechnical performance. The brokenline model estimated the maximum responses for feed intake, egg production, egg weight, and egg mass as 3,040, 2,820, 1,802, and 2,960 kcal of MEn per kg of diet, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the occurrence of hepatic steatosis and increased levels of Kupffer cells were not related to MEn levels.Conclusion: The level of 2,960 kcal/kg of MEn meets performance variable requirements without compromising hepatic physiology.