Utilization of egg shell meal in diets of Japanese quail in the phase from 11-25 weeks of age.

It was verified the possibility of replacement of limestone (CC) per quail eggshell meal (QSEM) in them diets in the phase of 11-25 weeks of age. It was used 192 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), distributed in a completely randomized design, consisting of three treatments (64 birds for treatment): Treatment 1: it was used 100% CC; Treatment 2: 50% of QESM + 50% CC and Treatment 3: 100% QESM. The parameters studied were: feed intake, egg production per bird-day, commercial egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio per egg mass and per dozen eggs, shell thickness, specific weight, weights and percentages of yolk, albumen and shell. There was not significant effect when replacing 50% or 100 % of CC per QESM in feed intake, egg production per bird-day, commercial egg production, weight of yolk, percentages of yolk, albumen and shell, shell thickness and specific weight. However, there was significant effect: egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratios per egg mass and per dozen eggs and the weights of albumen and shell. It is concluded that the CC can be substituted by up to 100% QESM in diets for Japanese quails, in 11-25 weeks of age, without any reduction in productive performance.