Estimating the requirement of dietary crude protein for growing blue-breasted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the requirement for dietary crude protein (CP) in growing blue-breasted quail (BBQ). In Experiment 1, 300 1-day-old quails were randomly assigned to 10 groups according to a 2 3 5 factorial arrangement of treatments with two metabolisable energy (ME) levels (12.13 and 13.39 MJ/kg) and five CP concentrations (160, 190, 220, 250 and 280 g/kg) for 8 weeks. In Experiment 2, 300 1-day-old quails were subjected to a different factorial arrangement of treatments with two ME levels (11.51 and 12.13 MJ/kg) and five CP concentrations (210, 220, 230, 240 and 250 g/kg) for 28 days. Experiment 1 revealed that an interaction existed in weight gain between ME and CP levels in weeks 1 to 4. In both ME groups, quails receiving CP of 160 g/kg showed the least weight gains ( P , 0.05). No differences ( P . 0.05) existed in weight gain between the ME groups in which quails ingested CP of 250 and 280 g/kg, whereas quails consuming CP of 220 g/kg with an ME of 13.39 MJ/kg had smaller weight gain than did those ingesting higher CP concentrations ( P , 0.05). Of main effects for weeks 1-4, quails treated with an ME of 12.13 MJ/kg consumed more feed than did those receiving another ME level, whereas quails in both ME treatments showed similar feed efficiencies. For weeks 5 to 8, no difference ( P . 0.05) in weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency was seen regardless of ME levels, and no interaction existed between ME and CP levels. In Experiment 2, the best weight gain and feed efficiency were achieved when the dietary CP concentration was more than 210 g/kg, and quails treated with 11.51 MJ/kg showed better weight gain and feed efficiency ( P , 0.05) than did those that received 12.13 MJ/kg. Furthermore, the weight gains and protein intakes on the basis of per MJ from the two experiments were pooled together to estimate the protein intake necessary for the best growth performance by two mathematic models; they were then converted to dietary CP concentrations of 204 (minimum) and 233 g/kg (maximum) when ME was 11.51 MJ/kg. In conclusion, BBQ will achieve good growth performance with dietary CP of more than 204 g/kg on the basis of an ME of 11.51 MJ/kg in weeks 1 to 4.

Various dietary levels of protein and energy interaction on growth performance of white plumage japanese quails

“…An interaction existed in weight gain between energy and protein as least weight gain (P<0.05) observed in both ME (12.13 and 13.39) fed groups with low CP diet [26]. Significantly (P<0.01) higher gain in weight and better FCR was observed by supplementing highest level of protein and energy combination (27% CP with 3200 Kcal ME/kg) [13,27].…”

Apportioning protein requirements for maintenance v. growth for blue-breasted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) from 7 to 21 days of age

“…A level of P , 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance. The one-slope quadratic broken-line model used to determine the individual protein requirements for maintenance and growth (Morris, 1999;Robbins et al, 2006) was similar to those reported by Wei et al (2011).…”

“…By the end of the experiment, it was possible to determine the sex by appearance and there were only 88 females and 84 males because eight birds died during the trial period. The temperature in each brooder was maintained at 40 6 18C for the first 2 weeks and was subsequently decreased by 28C every 2 days to 308C (Wei et al, 2011). The birds received for 2 weeks ad libitum water and a diet with a metabolisable energy concentration of 12.13 MJ/kg and a dietary CP concentration of 125,150,175,200,225 or 250 g/kg (Table 1).…”

“…The birds received for 2 weeks ad libitum water and a diet with a metabolisable energy concentration of 12.13 MJ/kg and a dietary CP concentration of 125,150,175,200,225 or 250 g/kg (Table 1). Because it was very difficult to compute formulae for diets with lower CP levels, 125 and 150 g/kg, on the basis of a lower ME of 11.51 MJ/kg recommended by Wei et al (2011), a higher concentration, 12.13 MJ/kg, was used instead. The moisture and nitrogen concentrations of the diets were measured by oven drying and by the Kjeldahl method, according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (2000, Methods 953.07 and 984.13).…”

“…This can be achieved by restricting the provision of dietary CP. Given a metabolisable energy concentration of 11.51 MJ/kg, a dietary CP level more than 204 g/kg is recommended for good growth (Wei et al, 2011). In many reported experiments, a linear model has been used to compute the requirements for maintenance and growth in chickens (Edwards and Baker, 1999;Sklan and Noy, 2005;Wei et al, 2009), rats ) and pigs -E-mail: mflin@ntu.edu.tw (Fuller et al, 1989) according to the first stage of a doseresponse curve (Morris, 1999).…”