title: Research note: effect of diet density and pelleting on productive parameters of Japanese quail.
abstract: An experiment was conducted to determine the response of growing Japanese quail to two dietary energy levels, high (3,200 kcal ME/kg) versus low (3,000 kcal ME/kg), and two forms of presentation, mash versus pellet. Seven thousand, two hundred day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly distributed into 24 floor pens containing 300 quail each. The experiment was divided in two phases: starter (until 2 wk of age) and finisher (Days 14 to 33). Weight gain was less (P < .05) for quail fed the low-energy mash diet than for those on other treatments. Feed consumption increased (P < .001) when low-energy and mash diets were fed. Metabolizable energy consumption was greater with the mash diets. Feed conversion improved (P < .001) when high-energy and pelleted diets were fed as compared with low-energy and mash diets, respectively. Results indicated that daily gain and feed conversion of quail fed the low-energy, pelleted diet equaled those of quail fed the high-energy mash diet. Pelleting improved the caloric efficiency of gain by quail. Quail seemed to adjust caloric intake according to the energy level of the diet.
authors: Department of Animal Production, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Lleida, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Angulo
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Brufau
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Miquel
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Esteve-Garcia
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D011336:Probability; D015430:Weight Gain