R. Bras. Zootec.01/Feb/1999;28(1):86-90.
Effect of calcium levels in diet of chicken Rhea (Rhea americana, Linnaeus, 1758), to prevent bow leg syndrome, in captivity
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35981999000100012
The objective of this work was to evaluate two levels of calcium (.7 and 1.4%) in the diet of chicken Rhea (Rhea americana). Twelve chicken Rhea with 30 days of age were allotted in pare, in six plots with 100 m2, in a completely randomized experiment design with three replications. The feed intake was daily evaluated and the weight and the growth characteristics (length of beak, tibiotarsus and metatarsus measurements) were weekly evaluated, during 60 days. The chicken Rhea maintained in a 100 m2 of grass and nude soil, that normally dislocated, did not show bow leg syndrome in anyone of the calcium level fed, but those treated with diets containing 1.4% of calcium presented better weight and growth characteristics than those that received diet with .7% of calcium.
Keywords: bow leg syndrome; calcium; Rhea