ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of inclusion of pinto beans in diets for quail in the laying phase on their performance and egg quality. A total of 280 Japanese quail in the laying phase were distributed into five treatments in a completely randomized design with eight replicates and seven birds per plot. Treatments consisted of five levels (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8%) of inclusion of pinto beans in the diets, which remained isoenergetic and isoproteic. The experiment began with the quail at 70 days of age and lasted 63 days, with their performance assessed every 21 days and egg-quality parameters on the last two days of each cycle. The following parameters were evaluated: final weight, feed intake, egg-laying rate, feed conversion (per dozen eggs and per egg mass), egg weight, eggshell thickness, specific gravity, yolk color, and weights of shell, yolk, and albumen. No difference was detected between the bean inclusion levels for any of the performance and egg-quality traits assessed or the birds' final weight. In conclusion, up to 8% raw pinto beans may be added in diets for Japanese quail in the laying phase without compromising their performance or internal-external egg quality.

ABSTRACT. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of including the waste from passion fruit pulp extraction in diets for Japanese quail in the laying phase on their production performance and egg quality. A total of 280 female quail were distributed into five treatments with eight replicates and seven birds per cage. Treatments consisted of 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8% inclusion of passion fruit waste in the diet. The experiment began with quail at 70 days of age and lasted 63 days, with performance evaluated every 21 days and egg quality in the last two days of each cycle. There was no difference between the treatments for feed intake, body weight, specific gravity, or eggshell thickness. However, a decreasing linear regression was obtained for feed intake with the inclusion of the waste, while a quadratic response was show by egg production, weight and parts of the egg. Inclusion of up to 6% passion fruit waste in diets for quail is recommended to maintain the indices in relation to control treatment. However, the best values for egg-laying rate and for the weights of egg, albumen, yolk, and shell are obtained with 2.5 to 3.5% inclusion of passion fruit waste.

RESUMO. Objetivou-se avaliar a ação da enzima fitase em rações formuladas com variação na proteína bruta sobre o desempenho e a qualidade de ovos de poedeiras comerciais. Foram alojadas 336 poedeiras comerciais, em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, com sete repetições e oito aves em cada gaiola. Os tratamentos constituíram de três níveis de proteína bruta (17, 15 e 13%) e dois níveis da enzima fitase (0 e 500 FTU kg-1 ração), distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Durante cinco períodos, de 28 dias cada, foram avaliados o consumo de ração, a produção de ovos, a conversão alimentar por dúzia e por quilograma, o peso e a massa de ovos, a gravidade específica, a espessura de casca e a unidade Haugh. Constatou-se piora no desempenho das poedeiras comerciais alimentadas com 13% de proteína bruta na ração, independente da adição da fitase. Porém, em 15% de proteína bruta, a inclusão da fitase não afetou a conversão alimentar e o peso dos ovos das aves. A inclusão da fitase proporciona resultados de qualidade de ovos e desempenho iguais para os níveis de 17 e 15% de proteína bruta na ração. Não se recomenda o nível de 13% de proteína bruta, com ou sem fitase, na ração de poedeiras semipesadas.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of the phytase enzyme in diets formulated with variations in the crude protein content on performance and egg quality of commercial layers. A total of 336 commercial layers were housed at eight birds per cage in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with seven replicates. Treatments consisted of four crude-protein levels (17, 15, and 13%) and two enzyme levels (0 and 500 FTU kg-1 diet), distributed in a completely randomized design. Feed intake, egg production, feed conversion per dozen eggs and per kilogram, egg weight and mass, specific gravity, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit were measured over five 28-day periods. The performance of commercial layers fed the diet containing 13% crude protein worsened, irrespective of phytase addition. However, at 15% crude protein, phytase inclusion did not affect feed conversion or egg weight. Inclusion of phytase leads to equal egg-quality and performance results at the dietary crude protein levels of 17 and 15%. The crude protein content of 13%, with or without phytase, is not recommended for the diet of brown-egg layers.