Agrarian (Apr 2017)

Sodium and potassium at different levels of crude protein for laying quails

  • Bruno Andreatta Scottá,
  • Talita Pinheiro Bonaparte,
  • José Geraldo de Vargas Junior,
  • Felipe Barreto Petrucci,
  • Danilo Vargas Gonçalves Vieira,
  • Julio Francisco Valiati Marin,
  • Silvana Marques Pastore,
  • Rita da Trindade Ribeiro Nobre Soares

DOI
https://doi.org/10.30612/agrarian.v10i35.4437
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 35
pp. 76 – 83

Abstract

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The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the performance of laying quails fed diets containing 21 and 24% crude protein, three electrolytic balances (200, 275 and 350 mEq/kg diet) and two forms of electrolytic balance increase (potassium and sodium + potassium). A total of 720 animals were distributed in two tests on random blocks design in 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with six replicates and ten birds/experimental unit. Birds started the experiment at 120 days of age and were kept in the treatment for a period of 84 days, subdivided into four 21-day periods. For the level of 21% crude protein, the addition of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) promoted increase in egg mass. For the level of 24%, the results showed that the combined addition of potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate (K2CO3 + Na2CO3) presented better laying rate, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion. Regardless of the protein level utilized, the best results were achieved with 200 mEq/kg diet.

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