Suitable For Quail Egg Production Levels Of Dietary Protein

The purpose of this study was to research the effect of diets'protein level on quail egg performance,egg quality and nutrient use.The single factor experiment design was conducted and there were six crude protein levels, including 16% ,18%, 20%, 22%, 24% and 26%. The 480 quails were chosen and distributed into four groups randomly. There were four repetitions in each group and 20 quails in each repetition. The experiment was divided into two periods artificially which were 6 ~ 33 weeks(earlier stage) and 34 ~ 41 weeks(latter stage). The results showed, the quails'egg production of group 1 in latter stage was lower than other groups significantly (P < 0.05), and laying rate was lower than group 2 and group 4 significantly (P < 0.05). There were no differences on the conversion of CP within groups (P > 0.05). The quails'shell strengthen of group 2 in earlier stage was lower than group 6 significantly (P < 0.05). The quails'shell thickness of group 1, 2 and 3 in earlier stage was higher than group 4 and group 6 significantly (P < 0.05). The quails'shell thickness of group 1 and 2 in latter stage was higher than group 6 significantly (P < 0.05), while the quails'shell thickness of group 1 in latter stage was higher than group 4 significantly (P < 0.05). The quails'GE metabolism yield of group 1,3,5 was significantly lower than group 2 (P <0.05). The quails'GE metabolic rate of group 1,2 was significantly higher than group 4,5,6 (P <0.05), the quails'GE metabolic rate of group 3 was significantly higher than group 5,6 (P <0.05). The quails'N ingestion of group 1 was significantly lower than other groups (P < 0.05), the quails'N ingestion of group 2,3 was significantly lower than group 4,5,6 (P <0.05), the quails'N ingestion of group 4,5 was significantly lower than group 6 (P <0.05). The quails'N retention of group 6 was significantly higher than other groups (P <0.05). The quails'N retention rate of group 1,2,3 was significantly higher than group 4,5 (P <0.05), the quails'N retention rate of group 6 was significantly higher than the group 5 (P <0.05). The quails'Ca ingestion of group 2 was significantly higher than group 5 (P <0.05). The quails'Ca retention of group 2 was significantly higher than group 4,5,6 (P <0.05). The quails'P ingestion of group 1 was significantly lower than group 2,4,6 (P <0.05).In sum up, the egg performance,the price difference between egg and diet and nutrient utilization of quails which feeding the diet with 18% CP level was the best, and while the egg performance and nutrient utilization of quails was not improved by higher CP level, such as 20~26%.