Nutritional potassium requirement for laying Japanese quails

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potassium requirement for laying Japanese quails. Two hundred and forty quails were distributed in a randomized block design, with five treatments and six replicates, with eight birds each. The treatments consisted of a basal diet deficient in potassium (K) (2.50 g/kg), supplemented with potassium carbonate, to replace the inert, to reach levels of 2.50, 3.50, 4.50, 5.50 and 6.50 (g/kg) of K in the diet. There was a quadratic effect of K levels on feed intake, egg production, egg mass and feed conversion per egg mass and per egg dozen, estimating the requirements of 4.26, 4.41, 4.38, 4.43 and 4.48 (g/kg) of K diet, respectively. There was no significant effect on the levels of K in the diet on egg weight, albumen weight, percentage of yolk or shell and yolk color. However, yolk and shell weights reduced and the albumen percentage increased linearly with increasing levels of K in the diet. Despite the reduction of shell weight, the increased levels of K did not influence the specific gravity and shell thickness. The use of 4.41 g/kg of potassium is recommended in the diet for laying Japanese quails

Níveis de lisina com dois balanços eletrolíticos para frangos de corte na fase de crescimento (22 a 40 dias) Lysine level with two electrolytes balance for broiler chickens in the growing phase (22 a 40 day)

Objetivou-se avaliar os níveis de lisina para frangos de corte na fase de crescimento (22 a 40 dias de idade) utilizando-se dois balanços eletrolíticos. Foram utilizados 640 frangos de corte machos de 21 dias de idade, linhagem Cobb, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 × 2, composto de cinco níveis de lisina (1,062, 20, 40 e 60% acima e 20% abaixo do recomendado) e dois balanços eletrolíticos (190 e 255 mEq/kg), com quatro repetições e 16 aves por unidade experimental. Não foi observada interação das variáveis estudadas, porém, os níveis de lisina influenciaram o peso final, o ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar e afetaram de forma linear o consumo de ração. Os melhores ajustes foram observados quando se utilizou o modelo descontinuo LRP, no qual valores acima de 1,089 e 1,14% de lisina não melhoraram o ganho de peso e tampouco a conversão alimentar. Entre os parâmetros sangüíneos avaliados, apenas o ácido úrico foi influenciado pelos níveis de lisina. Os rendimentos de carcaça e de cortes nobres não diferiram significativamente entre os níveis de lisina e os balanços eletrolíticos, contudo, a gordura abdominal foi influenciada pelo balanço eletrolítico da dieta. Níveis acima de 1,089 e 1,14% de lisina, respectivamente, não melhoram o desempenho das aves. Os níveis de lisina testados não influenciaram o rendimento de carcaça nem de cortes nobres.<br>The lysine levels for chickens in the growing phase (22 to 40 days of age) by using two different electrolytes balance were evaluated. Sixty-four hundred Cobb broiler male of 21 days old were allotted to a completely randomized design as a factorial arrangement of treatments, five lysine levels (1.062, 20, 40, and 60% above and 20% below of recommended levels) and two electrolytes balance (190 and 255 mEq/kg), with four replicates and 16 broilers for experimental unit. There was no interaction among the variables studied, however the lysine levels affected final weight, weight gain and the feed:gain ratio and feed intake, however, the best adjustments were observed when the discontinue LRP model was used, where values above 1.089 and 1.14% of lysine did not increase weight gain and feed:gain ratio. Concerning the blood parameters, only uric acid was affected by lysine levels, but no difference was observed for carcass and prime cuts yield, the abdominal fat was influenced by the dietary electrolyte balance. Lysine levels above 1.089 and 1.14 for weight gain and feed:gain ratio, respectively, did not impair broiler performance. The lysine levels affected neither carcass yield and nor prime cuts yield