Dietary inclusion of parboiled whole rice bran on production of meat quails

Resumo

The use of non-conventional feeds in poultry farming can reduce production costs, mainly because of its low cost, availability and chemical composition. Thus, parboiled whole rice bran (PWRB) appears as a potential use in feeding quails. Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of PWRB in the diet of quails. In each experiment, a total of 288 seven-day-old European quails of both sexes, were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replicates of eight quails each. The treatments consisted in the inclusion of PWRB in the proportions of 0; 5; 10; 15; 20 and 25% (first) and 0; 8; 16; 24; 32 and 40% (second). In the first experiment, a linear reduction in feed intake and weight gain was observed with the inclusion of PWRB above 5%, with no significant effect on feed conversion and carcass characteristics. However, there was no loss in the performance and carcass characteristics of quails fed with different levels of PWRB in comparison to the control group. In the second, it was observed that the inclusion of PWRB above 8% promoted a linear reduction in feed intake, weight gain and improvement in feed conversion, with no significant effect on carcass characteristics. However, quails fed 40% PWRB showed reduced intake and weight gain when compared to the control group. The use of PWRB provided an improvement in economic viability. Considering the effect on growth, PWRB can be used in the feeding of meat quails up to 32%.