Calcium levels for 1 to 35-days-old female japanese quails/Exigencias de calcio para codornas japonesas femeas de um a 35 dias de idade

Two trials were carried out to determine calcium requirements for better performance, and calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) deposition in the tibia and femur of Japanese quails aged 1 to 35 days. Two hundred and ten female quails were allocated in a completely randomized experimental design, with seven treatments, three repetitions and ten birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with limestone in order to produce the following Ca levels: 0.85; 1.00; 1.15; 1.30; 1.45; 1.60 and 1.75% in the initial phase (1 to 21 days) and 0.53; 0.68; 0.83; 0.98; 1.13; 1.28 and 1.43% in the growing phase (22 to 35 days). In the initial phase, feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion showed quadratic response to dietary Ca levels, as well as on the content of Ca in the tibia and femur of quails. In the growing phase, only feed conversion was significantly affected. Dietary calcium levels recommended for the initial and growing phases are 1.26 and 0.87%, respectively.