Efeito de moringa oleífera no comportamento de codornas japonesas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of inclusion of different levels of Moringa oleifera in the diets of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) on behavior and welfare. The trial was divided into two cycles of 28 days each, using 120 quails with an average weight of 148 ± 2.6g and about 25 days of age. Quails were randomly distributed in cages with five birds each. The treatment s used were different levels of inclusion of moringa in the diets (0, 2, 4 and 6%), with replicates of each treatment. The variables analyzed were aggressive behaviors (pecking and riding), non-aggressive behaviors (eating, drinking, scratching and idleness), tonic immobility time and injury scores (0, 1, 2 and 3). In the first and second periods, the effect of inclusion of moringa in the diets was not observed on aggressive behavior, aggressive and not long tonic immobility. For injury scores, in the first period birds fed with the inclusion of 2% of moringa presented higher scores, differently from the second period in which this effect was not observed. Therefore, Moringa oleifera intake does not present negative effects on behavior of quail, and can be used as an alternative source of nutrients in the diet of these birds.