RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização das farinhas de conchas de sururu, maçunim e ostra como fontes de cálcio sobre o desempenho produtivo, rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros ósseos de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 250 codornas europeias, não sexadas, com um dia de idade. As aves foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituído por cinco fontes de cálcio (calcário calcítico, carbonato de cálcio, farinha de conchas de sururu, farinha de conchas de maçunim e farinha de conchas de ostras), com cinco repetições e dez aves por unidade experimental. Foram avaliados o consumo de ração, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar no período de um a 35 dias. Aos 35 dias, duas aves de peso médio de cada parcela foram abatidas e utilizadas para as análises de rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros ósseos. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (P > 0,05) para os dados de consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, matéria seca, cinzas e resistência óssea de tíbias. As farinhas de conchas de sururu, maçunim e ostra podem ser utilizadas na alimentação de codornas europeias, como fontes de cálcio, sem afetar o desempenho produtivo, rendimento de carcaça e a mineralização óssea das aves.

ABSTRACT: This study was developed to examine the effect of using charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals as calcium sources on the productive performance, carcass yield and bone parameters of meat quail. A total of 250 one-day-old non-sexed European quail were used. The birds were distributed into five treatments (calcium sources: calcitic lime, calcium carbonate, charru mussel shell meal, maçunim shell meal or oyster shell meal) in a completely randomized design with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated from one to 35 days. At 35 days, two birds with the average weight of the plot were slaughtered per plot and used for analysis of carcass yield and bone parameters. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield or tibia dry matter content, ash content and strength. The charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals can be used as calcium sources in the diet of European quail without affecting their productive performance, carcass yield or bone mineralization.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of 50% broken rice (BR) in diets for meat quail from 1 to 35 days old, starting at different ages. A total of 875 mixed quail were allocated to five treatments in a completely randomized design with five replicates of 35 birds. The treatments consisted of a maize- and soybean meal-based control diet and four other similar diets in which the inclusion of 50% BR was started at different ages, namely, 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd days. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and mortality rate were evaluated weekly. At 35 days, 10 quail per plot were weighed and selected to be slaughtered for evaluations of live weight, carcass yield and gizzard yield. Lastly, a study of economic viability was carried out. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was detected for the performance parameters, live weight or carcass yield, but a higher gizzard yield was found (p < 0.05) in the treatment without BR. The inclusion of BR from the first day of life provided better economic viability. Diets with a maximum inclusion of 50% BR can be formulated for meat quail at any age.

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 Due to the good silvicultural characteristics of Schizolobium amazonicum (parica) and its versatility (planting and use), the species has become an alternative in commercial exploitation. Aiming to verify the influence of irrigation depth and substrate on the germination and growth of Parica seedlings, a greenhouse experiment was conducted using randomized blocks in a 2 × 4 bifactorial scheme, with two types of substrates (washed sand and commercial substrate) and four irrigation depths corresponding to 50%, 100%, 150% and 200% of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo), with five replications. Germination rate, emergency speed index and biometric variables were evaluated. The commercial substrate combined with the irrigation level of 50% of ETo favored a higher emergence speed and germination rate. In the growing phase, the irrigation level of 150% of ETo combined with the commercial substrate produced better results, indicating greater survival and development in the field.