Research note: effect of diet density and pelleting on productive parameters of Japanese quail.

An experiment was conducted to determine the response of growing Japanese quail to two dietary energy levels, high (3,200 kcal ME/kg) versus low (3,000 kcal ME/kg), and two forms of presentation, mash versus pellet. Seven thousand, two hundred day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly distributed into 24 floor pens containing 300 quail each. The experiment was divided in two phases: starter (until 2 wk of age) and finisher (Days 14 to 33). Weight gain was less (P < .05) for quail fed the low-energy mash diet than for those on other treatments. Feed consumption increased (P < .001) when low-energy and mash diets were fed. Metabolizable energy consumption was greater with the mash diets. Feed conversion improved (P < .001) when high-energy and pelleted diets were fed as compared with low-energy and mash diets, respectively. Results indicated that daily gain and feed conversion of quail fed the low-energy, pelleted diet equaled those of quail fed the high-energy mash diet. Pelleting improved the caloric efficiency of gain by quail. Quail seemed to adjust caloric intake according to the energy level of the diet.