This study evaluated the performance, egg quality, relative weight of the gastrointestinal organs, and the intestinal morphometry of laying quails fed diets containing levels of dried cassava residue (DCR). A total of 120 150-day-old Japanese quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0.0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; and 10.0% of DCR), four replicates, and six birds per experimental unit. The dietary inclusion of DCR did not affect (p>0.05) performance, internal egg quality, yolk color, and the values of villus height, crypt depth, and villus height/crypt depth ratio for the segments of the small intestine. However, a linear increase (p<0.05) was found for eggshell thickness, relative weight of the gizzard, and small intestine with increased dietary levels of the residue. For the relative weight of the pancreas, a quadratic effect (p<0.05) was observed, with the lower relative weight estimated at 4.04% DCR inclusion. Comparing to the control group (0% of DRC inclusion) the quails fed 5% of DRC showed a lower relative weight of the pancreas. The inclusion of up to 10% of dried cassava residue in laying quail's diets does not interfere with the performance. Among the organs of gastrointestinal tract, the inclusion of dried cassava residue increased the relative weight of gizzard and small intestine. In addition, it improves eggshell quality by increasing eggshell thickness.

Time of exposure and light intensity rearing house may affect the performance and egg quality of laying quails. This research aimed at evaluating the live performance, egg quality, biometry of the reproductive system, and the gastrointestinal tract of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) exposed to artificial light-emitting diodes (LED) of different colors in comparison with fluorescent lamps. A total of 240 Japanese quails were distributed in completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (fluorescent lamp, and green, red, or blue LED lamps) with six replicates of 10 birds each. Average egg weight and eggshell thickness were different (p<0.05) when LED bulbs were compared with fluorescent lamps. The egg weight of the birds exposed to the red LED was similar to those under a fluorescent lamp (p>0.05). The oviduct of 64-d-old hens exposed to green LED lighting was shorter (p<0.05) than those exposed to the fluorescent lamp. Red LED can be used to replace the fluorescent lamps, as they promote the same live performance, egg quality, and morphological development of the reproductive tract of laying Japanese quails.

O objetivo do estudo foi de avaliar os efeitos da iluminação artificial por fitas de diodo emissor de luz (LED) vermelhas em substituição às lâmpadas fluorescentes, no regime de iluminação de poedeiras comerciais em fase de produção, por meio da avaliação dos índices zootécnicos e qualidade e peso dos ovos. Foram utilizadas 200 poedeiras comerciais da linhagem Bovans White, com 30 semanas de idade, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos: fita de LED vermelha e lâmpada fluorescente, com 10 repetições de 10 aves cada. As avaliações de desempenho e de qualidade e peso dos ovos foram realizadas nos últimos três dias de cada ciclo, foram avaliados três ciclos, cada um com 28 dias. Os resultados foram analisados no programa estatístico Assistat, submetidos à análise de variância e, em caso de efeito significativo (p0,05) para desempenho produtivo (consumo de ração, produção de ovos/dia e conversão alimentar kg/kg e kg/dz) e qualidade dos ovos (peso médio dos ovos, unidade Haugh, porcentagem de albúmen, gema e casca) para os ciclos avaliados, entre os tratamentos. Para o peso médio dos ovos nos ciclos avaliados ocorreu maior peso para as aves expostas a luz de LED vermelha (p