A B S T R A C TThe objective of this study was to determine the effects of environment and electrolyte balance on environmental, physiological and productive indices of Japanese quails. For the experiment, 288 quails were distributed in a randomized block design with six treatments and six replicates of eight birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of one basal feed with 20.0% of crude protein (CP) and the others with a reduction of 3.0% CP to achieve six electrolyte balance levels (166.54; 153.47; 139.63; 139.63; 117.13 and 166.49). As to the environment, there was an increase in air temperature and temperature-humidity index at the hottest hours of the day, causing discomfort to the birds, which increased respiratory rate, but with the maintenance of homeothermy. Differences were observed in feed consumption, water consumption, production, weight of eggs and mass of eggs, due to the electrolyte levels in the feed. For feed conversion, both per mass and per dozen of eggs, there was no statistical difference. The electrolyte balance and environmental indices at the hottest hours of the day did not affect quail production.Índice de conforto térmico, variáveis fisiológicas e desempenho de codornas alimentadas com redução proteica R E S U M O Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, determinar o efeito do ambiente e do balanço eletrolítico sobre os índices ambientais, fisiológicos e produtivos de codornas japonesas. Utilizaram-se 288 aves distribuídas no delineamento em blocos casualizados com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de oito aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma ração basal com nível de 20,0% PB e os demais com redução de 3,0% PB, para alcançar seis níveis de balanço eletrolítico (166,54; 153,47; 139,63; 139,63; 117,13 e 166,49). Quanto ao ambiente, verificou-se uma elevação na temperatura do ar e no índice de temperatura e umidade nos horários mais quentes do dia, causando desconforto às aves, que elevaram a frequência respiratória, porém com a manutenção da homeotermia. Foram observadas diferenças no consumo de ração, consumo de água, produção, peso e massa de ovo, em razão dos níveis eletrolíticos da ração. Quanto à conversão alimentar tanto por massa quanto por dúzia de ovos, não foi observada diferença estatística. O balanço eletrolítico e os índices ambientais nos horários mais quentes do dia não interferiram na produção das aves.

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The supply of salt water in the semiarid region is a recurrent practice, as there is a severe shortage of water for use in animal consumption. Thus, most of the times the water offered to the birds can contain salts above the recommended amount. The present study aimed to evaluate the production performance and morphometry of the organs of Japanese quails as they were supplied with drinking water with different concentrations of sodium chloride, while being maintained in comfort and under thermal stress. The birds received water with increasing electrical conductivity (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1) and were kept in a climate chamber at thermoneutral air temperature (24 °C) and under thermal stress (32 °C), being distributed in a completely randomized design and 2 × 4 factorial scheme. Water electrical conductivities did not affect the performance of the birds, except for the weight of the gizzard, which showed an increasing linear effect as the electrical conductivities increased. At the stress temperature, there was reduction in feed intake, egg weight and mass, and in feed conversion per dozen eggs, but with no effect on the weights of the heart, liver and gizzard. Japanese quails in the production phase can consume water with electrical conductivity of up to 6.0 dS m-1, showing good production performance and without compromising organ morphometry.

The objective was to evaluate the increasing levels of magnesium in the water supplied to laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica), kept in climatic chambers under thermoneutral temperature and thermal stress, on their performance and morphometry of their organs. The birds were distributed in a completely randomized design, 2x4 factorial arrangement, 2 temperatures (24 and 32 ºC) and 4 levels of magnesium in the water (50, 150, 250 and 350 mg L-1), with six replicates and eight birds per experimental unit. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability level. The magnesium levels in the water did not affect (P > 0.05) the production performance and morphometry of the organs, with less water consumption at the magnesium level of 150 mg L-1, and birds kept at 32 °C had a reduction in feed consumption and feed conversion, but without affecting organ morphometry. Japanese quails in the production phase can consume water with magnesium levels up to 350 mg L-1 without having their production performance and morphometry of organs affected and raised in an environment with temperatures of up to 32 °C.

<p class="western" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Determinar os índices produtivos e os valores de qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas na fase de postura foi o objetivo primordial deste trabalho, no qual, se utilizaram288 aves, distribuídas no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de oito aves cada. Avaliaram-se os índices produtivos e os índices qualitativos em função dos níveis de balanço eletrolítico. </span>Os resultados que apresentaram efeito significativo foi <span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">consumo de ração, consumo de água, produção, peso e massa de ovo, </span>peso de gema e casca, percentagens de albúmen, gema e casca e a coloração de gema.<span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> Quanto à conversão alimentar tanto por massa quanto por dúzia de ovos não foi observada diferença estatística. O balanço eletrolítico não interferiu na produção das aves. </span></p><p class="western" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><br /></span></p><p class="western" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="western" align="center"><strong><em>Electrolyte Balance in reduced protein diets for Japanese quail in the first production cycle</em></strong></p><p class="western" align="center"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></p><p class="western" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="western"><strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: To determine the production rates and the values of egg quality of Japanese quails posture was the primary objective of this study, in which 288 birds were used, distributed in a randomized block design with six treatments and six replicates of eight birds each. Evaluated the production indices and qualitative indices according to the level of electrolyte balance. The results showed that significant effects were feed intake, water intake, output, weight, and egg mass, yolk and shell weight, percentage of albumen, yolk and shell and yolk color. As for the food conversion by both mass and per dozen eggs no statistical difference was observed. The electrolyte balance did not affect the production of poultry.</p><p class="western" style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><br /></span></p>

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of water salinity and ambient temperature on the physiological variables and the quality of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in the laying phase. The quails received water with increasing levels of salinity (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1) and were kept in climatic chambers under two different temperatures (24ºC and 32ºC). The design used was completely randomised, with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement (temperatures and salinity levels), with six replicates of eight birds each. Data were submitted for analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5%. There was no influence (P > 0.05) of water salinity levels on the physiological variables nor on the quality of the birds’ eggs. At 32oC there was an increase (P < 0.05) in respiratory rate, cloacal and body surface temperature of the birds, and a slight reduction (P < 0.05) in the weight of eggs, shells, and percentage of shell. For laying quails, water with salinity levels of up to 6.0 dSm-1 can be used and the birds can be raised in an environment with temperatures up to 32ºC.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of four water salinity levels on productive performance, physiological and behavioral responses of confined sheep. Thus, 24 crossbred sheep, ½ Dorper x ½ Santa Inês were evaluated while receiving ration and water ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomized, composed of four treatments (1.5; 3.0; 6.0 and 9.0 dSm-1) and six replicates. The water supply with salinity of up to 9.0 dSm-1 did not affect (P > 0.05) the physiological indexes, performance, or ingestive behavior of the animals, which were able to maintain normal physiological conditions even at times when the thermal comfort indexes were above the ideal. For voluntary water consumption, it was observed that there was a significant difference between treatments (P < 0.05), where animals consuming water with a conductivity of 1.5; 3.0 dSm-1 had lower consumption than those who received six dSm-1. The supply of water with a salinity of up to 9.0 dSm-1 did not affect the performance or the ingestive behavior of the animals, so waters with this salinity can be a valid alternative for crossbred sheep in the semi-arid region, as long as it is used seasonally and strategically.

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