Farinha de alga calcária na dieta de codornas japonesas e seus efeitos no desempenho das aves e na qualidade dos ovos

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the substitution of inorganic calcium source (calcitic limestone) for organic source (limestone algae) in the diet of Japanese quails and its influence on egg quality and bird performance. The trial was carried out in the field of cotton growing at the Federal University of Grande Dourados, using 120 Japanese quails distributed in a completely randomized design, with 4 treatments (T1 = control (basal diet), T2 = basal diet + 10% of replacement calcareous algae. calcium carbonate; T3 = basal feed + 20% of calcareous algae replacing calcium carbonate and T4 = basal feed + 30% of calcareous algae replacing calcium carbonate). Performance and egg quality parameters were subjected to regression analysis. The inclusion of calcareous algae had a quadratic effect for the average egg weight variable, from the regression analysis it was observed that the maximum inclusion of calcareous algae for better egg weight was 9,4 %. For albumen height and albumen weight there was also a quadratic effect (P <0.05), with a maximum level of 2.60% and 3.19% of inclusion, respectively. In relation to shell thickness there was increasing linear effect (p <0.05) for the levels used, the higher the level of lime in the diet, the greater the thickness verified. There was no effect (p <0.05) of the diets on the performance parameters of the birds. Replacing an inorganic calcium source (calcitic limestone) with organic source (limestone) by up to 30% in the Japanese quail diet provides better shell thickness and does not impair bird performance.