Dietary supplementation of glutamine and glutamic acid on performance, intestinal morphometry, and carcass characteristics of broiler quails/Suplementacao dietetica de glutamina e acido glutamico sobre o desempenho, morfometria intestinal e caracteristicas de carcaca de codornas de corte

This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with glutamine and glutamic acid (Gln+Glu) on performance, intestinal morphometry, and carcass characteristics of broiler quails. Eight hundred birds were used, distributed in an entirely randomized design with 20 birds per experimental unit, and given five treatments (0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation) with eight replicates. At 1-21 days of age, lower (P < 0.05) feed intake at 0.6 and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation and lower weight gain at 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation compared to the control treatment were observed. By regression analysis, excluding the control treatment, there was an increasing linear effect (P < 0.05) for feed intake at 22 to 42 days of age. For intestinal morphometry, Gln+Glu supplementation only favored the villus development of the ileum (P < 0.05), giving it greater height at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8% supplementation. Carcass characteristics, cuts, and edible viscera of the birds at 42 days were not affected (P > 0.05) by Gln+Glu supplementation levels. Thus, the glutamine and glutamic acid supplementation affected the performance and intestinal morphology of 21-d-old quails, decreasing feed intake and weight gain associated with the improvement of ileum morphology; conversely, performance and carcass characteristics at 42 days were not affected by amino acid supplementation. Key words: Coturnix, glutamate, intestinal morphophysiology, cell renewal. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementacao dietetica de glutamina e acido glutamico (Gln+Glu) sobre o desempenho, a morfometria intestinal e as caracteristicas de carcaca de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 800 aves, distribuidas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (0,0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,6 e 0,8% de suplementacao de Gln+Glu) e oito repeticoes com 20 aves por unidade experimental. Na fase de um a 21 dias, constatou-se menor (P < 0,05) consumo de racao aos niveis de 0,6 e 0,8% de Gln+Glu e menor ganho de peso ao nivel 0,8% de Gln+Glu em comparacao ao tratamento controle; e, pela analise de regressao, excluindo-se o tratamento controle, houve efeito linear crescente (P < 0,05) para consumo de racao na fase 22 a 42 dias de idade. Para morfometria intestinal, a suplementacao de Gln+Glu apenas favoreceu o desenvolvimento vilos do ileo (P < 0,05), conferindo-lhe maior altura aos niveis de 0,2; 0,6 e 0,8% de suplementacao. As caracteristicas de carcaca, cortes e visceras comestiveis das aves aos 42