Meat quails carcass characteristics fed with different protein and energy levels

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different levels of crude protein and metabolizable energy on carcass characteristics of quails. The experimental design was randomized blocks, factorial (5x3x2) with five levels of crude protein (PB) (18; 20; 22; 24 and 26%), three levels of metabolizable energy (EM) (2700; 2900 and 3100 scheme kcal / kg) and both sexes, with three replications. The quail were reared in cages throughout the experimental period, being the feed provided ad libitum. Two birds of each sex per experimental unit, were slaughtered at 50 days, after fasting for 10 hours, to evaluate of weight: body slaughter, carcass, breast, legs, wings, liver, gizzard and heart. The multiple regression models were adopted as a method of statistical analysis. There was no significant effect of PB levels studied on carcass traits, cut or weight of viscera, the quails of both sexes, except for heart weight. The best carcass characteristics of quails, males and females of the female lineage 2 (LF2) are obtained with ration with 18% CP and 2700 kcal / kg.