Magnesium in the water of Japanese quails kept under comfort zone and under thermal stress

Abstract

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.

A scoping review of the impact of heat stress on the organs of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

“…Figure 3 summarises the effects of heat on the major organs of the Japanese quail. Heat stress increased gizzard weight (Furtado et al, 2022), but other organs remained unaffected, as Rodrigues et al (2022) reported. In the intestines: heat stress decreased villus height and area of the small intestines; reduced number of goblet cells; caused crypt epithelium hyperplasia; and decreased Calbindin-D28k (epithelial calcium transporter channel) activity in the duodenum (De Moraes et al, 2021;Mehaisen et al, 2017;Sandikci et al, 2004).…”

Productive performance, egg quality and the morphometry of the organs of Japanese quails (Cotournix cotournix japônica) kept at different temperatures

“…The average egg weight (11.80 and 11.96 g for 24 and 32 °C, respectively) is similar to those reported by Santos et al (2017), who mentions that this weight must be between 9 and 13 g. Akdemir et al (2019) mention that egg production and weight were reduced in laying quails kept under cyclic thermal stress (7h at 34 ± 2 °C), followed by thermal comfort (17h at 22 ± 2 °C). Rodrigues et al (2022), evaluating the performance and quality of quail eggs at two temperatures (24 and 32 °C) did not observe any difference in egg weight, Furtado et al (2022) observed a significant difference in egg weight as a function of temperatures of 24 and 32 °C.…”

“…Even with lower feed intake and quails raised in stressful environments, these situations were not enough to change these variables, demonstrating less energy needed to maintain the birds' homeotherm. Furtado et al (2022) and Rodrigues et al (2022) found no difference in egg production in quails reared at two temperatures (24 and 32 °C).…”

“…However, the heart and liver weight of birds was not influenced by environmental temperatures (Table 3). Rodrigues et al (2022) mention that quail reared in cyclic temperatures of 12 hours of heat and thermoneutral temperature did not affect liver weight.…”

“…The size and weight of the gizzard are related to its muscle mass, developed by mechanical work to macerate the food (Rodrigues et al, 2022). There was a reduction (P = 0.030) of 5.44% in the weight of the gizzard with the increase in ambient temperature, which may be associated with lower feed consumption by birds kept at this temperature, reducing the mechanical work to break down the food, which can cause a reduction in the mass and activity of internal organs (Salabi et al, 2011).…”