Blood and bone parameters of quails fed different levels of sodium

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of the level of sodium in the diet on blood parameters and bone development of quails for meat production. 384 Italian quails were used and distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and eight replicates of eight birds each. The treatments consisted of diets isonutrientes, except for the level of sodium, which were 0.07, 0.12, 0.17, 0.22, 0.27 and 0.32%. Birds were fed from 1 to 49 days old with the experimental diets and at 49 days, two birds were selected per replicate for blood collection and removal of the tibia. Were evaluated the pH and the concentration of Na, Cl and K in the blood and the length, diameter, weight, Seedor index, dry matter content and ash content, deformity and resistance to breakage of the tibia. The sodium content of the diet did not significantly affect the pH, concentrations of Na, Cl, K in the blood, length, diameter, dry matter and ash and deformity of the tibia. However, there was a quadratic effect on weight, Seedor index and resistance to breakage, with point of maximum estimated at 0.19% Na in diet, for all parameters. As the results, the best quality bone for quails was obtained with 0.19% sodium diet.