Growth response to chronic beta agonist feeding and mature carcass characteristics of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) selected for high and low body densities.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of long-term feeding of a beta agonist (cimaterol) on female Japanese quail. Quail used were from lines selected for high (HD) and low (LD) body density from a randombred population. Dietary treatments consisted of 1) the basal feed, 2) the basal feed containing .5 ppm, or 3) 1.0 ppm of the beta agonist. The treatment period for the six experimental groups extended from 14 to 94 days of age. Weight gains to 49 days and live weights at 94 days of age were greater (P less than .05) in the cimaterol-fed groups. Age and live weight at first egg in both lines were greater (P less than .01) when groups were fed treated diets. Eviscerated carcass yields were higher (P less than .01) and carcass moisture was lower (P less than .05) in treated groups. There were no differences in carcass fat or protein among the dietary treatments. Abdominal fat pad weights were larger (P less than .05) in the heavier (P less than .01) HD line but were not significantly affected by cimaterol. Abdominal adipocyte diameters were significantly larger in HD (P less than .05) and cimaterol-treated (P less than .05) quail.