R. Bras. Zootec.01/Nov/2011;40(11):2394-9.
Chlorine levels for Japanese quails during the egg-laying period
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982011001100016
In order to evaluate the effects of chlorine levels on performance and egg quality of Japanese quails during the production phase, 288 quails with seventeen weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments, eight replicates and six birds experimental unit. Chlorine levels were: 0.07, 0.12, 0.17, 0.22, 0.27 and 0.32%. Performance and egg quality parameters evaluated were: feed intake (g/bird/day), water consumption (mL/bird/day), production (%), egg weight (g), egg mass (g/bird/day), feed conversion (g/g), moisture of excreta, digestibility of dry matter, coefficient of nitrogen, coefficient of gross energy, apparent metabolizable energy, corrected apparent metabolizable energy, Haugh unit, percentages of albumen, yolk and shell. Chlorine levels did not significantly influence any of those variables; however, the specific gravity increased linearly with the addition of chlorine in the feed. It is recommended that diets for Japanese quails during the production phase be formulated with clorine levels of up to 0.32%.
Keywords: ammonium chloride; electrolyte balance; minerals; production; salt