Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) responses to low protein diets supplemented with crystalline lysine, methionine, and threonine

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 94; p. 461
• Main Authors: Cortés, C R Herrera, Barragán, H Bernal, Dávila, F Sánchez, Quiroz, J E Hernández, Abundiz, M A Montemayor, Ramírez, M Cervantes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Champaign Oxford University Press 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animal sciences; Birds; Body weight; Body weight gain; Cages; Coturnix japonica; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Data processing; Diet; Efficiency; Environmental impact; Feed efficiency; Low protein diet; Lysine; Methionine; Nutrient deficiency; Poultry; Proteins; Sorghum; Threonine; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/jam2016-0957

This study was conducted with the aim to determine the effect of dietary levels of lysine, methionine, and threonine on growth efficiency, environmental impact, and carcass quality of growing quails (Coturnix japonica). A sorghum-SBM basal diet with 21.1% crude protein, 1.08% lysine, 0.32% methionine, and 0.78% threonine (Diet 1) was formulated. Four additional diets (Diet 2 to 5) were supplemented with crystalline lysine, methionine, and threonine to contain 1.19, 1.30, 1.41, and 1.53% lysine; 0.46, 0.50, 0.54 and 0.59% methionine and 0.93, 1.02, 1.11, and 1.20% threonine, respectively. All diets were isoenergetic (2,958 kcal EM/kg feed). Ninety 14-days old quails were distributed in 30 cages, and randomly assigned to the five experimental diets (n = 6 replicates/treatment) during 28 d. Body weight, feed intake, average daily weight gain, and feed efficiency were monitored weekly. On the fourth week, excreta were collected during 48 h. Data were statistically analyzed with ANOVA. Final body weight, and average daily gain responded in a quadratic manner (P < 0.05) to incremental levels of crystalline amino acids. Birds fed Diet 5 had a body weight gain 12% higher (P < 0.005) than those fed the basal diet (3.26 g/d). Birds fed Diets 2 and 4 had 50 to 70% heavier thighs than birds in basal diet (16.9 vs. 9.7 g; P < 0.05), with no other carcass differences. On the other hand, birds receiving Diet 3 with 1.30% lysine, 0.50% methionine, and 1.02% threonine, reduced 23% (P < 0.05) the amount (1.17 g) of N excreted per unit of body weight gain of birds fed the basal diet. It was estimated that requirements of lysine, methionine, and threonine for growth traits of quails are 1.53%, 0.59%, and 1.20%, respectively. In conclusion, supplementing crystalline lysine, methionine, and threonine, improved growth efficiency, carcass quality, and protein utilization of growing Japanese quails fed a 21.1% CP sorghum-SBM based diet.