Desempenho e qualidade de ovos de codornas japonesas (Coturnix coturnix japônica) alimentadas com dietas contendo diferentes níveis óleo de palma.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of adding increasing leveis of palm oil in the diet of Japanese quails on the performance and egg quality. 224 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), with 18 weeks of age and initial weight of 0.164 kg were housed. The treatments were defined according to the inclusion of palm oil in the diet, with an energy levei of 2,850 kcal ME / kg and 20 % protein: TI - control diet, T2 - Diet with 2% inclusion of palm oil, T3 - Diet with 4 % inclusion of palm oil, T4 - Diet with 6 % inclusion of palm oil. The inclusion of 6 % palm oil to the diet significantly increased egg production when compared to the other treatments, increased competition for food and improved feed conversion compared with the control treatment that did not use palm oil in the diet. The addition of up to 6 % palm oil in the diets did not negatively alter the egg quality of Japanese quails.