title: Body weight and composition of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) at sexual maturity.
abstract: The influence of dietary protein (26%, 24%, 20%, 16%, and 14%) and restricted feeding (100%, 80%, and 60% of ad libitum) on body weight and body composition of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) at sexual maturity was examined in two similar experiments. Although less variable than chronological age, body weight at sexual maturity also differed significantly. In Experiment 1, there were no significant differences in breast weight, tibia length or carcass fat due to diet. In Experiment 2, differences in body composition were apparent as age at the onset of lay was increased by dietary manipulation. Early maturing quail tended to enter lay when a minimum chronological age or critical body lipid level was reached; late maturing quail entered lay when a critical lean body weight or skeletal size was reached. It is proposed that multiple threshold traits associated with growth and body composition are critical for the onset of sexual maturity.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011784:Quail / Q000254:growth & development*; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins