This study assessed the effect of different cage stocking densities on the performance of Italian quails in the laying period. Two hundred and sixty four quails with 30 weeks of age and 280g mean body weight were used. Birds were randomly assigned to 96 x 33 x 16 cm cages and distributed in a randomized block design with 4 treatments (12, 15, 18 and 21 quails per cage or 264, 211, 176 and 151 cm² per quail, respectively) and 4 replicates. Birds were given feed and water ad libitum and submitted to the same experimental conditions. The experimental diet was formulated based on NRC (1994) recommendations. There were no significant differences among treatments for feed conversion per egg mass (kg:kg), percentage of broken eggs and mortality. There was a linear reduction (p<0.05) in egg weight, feed consumption, percentage of production, egg mass and feed conversion per dozen with the increase in stocking density. The gain per house per day was better at the cage density of 151 cm² per bird. However, the density of 211 cm² per bird provided the best gain per bird per day, because this stocking density had better productive indexes when compared with the other treatments

campus, and aimed at evaluating the effect of the inclusion of flavonoids along with mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) as compared to other additives on the performance, carcass and parts yields, and meat quality of broilers reared from 1 to 42 days of age. A total number of 1500 Cobb broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design into five treatments, with six replicates of 50 birds each. Treatments consisted of a control group, probiotic 1, probiotic 2, antibiotic, and flavonoids+MOS. For the period of 1 to 42 days of age, there were no differences among treatments as to daily weight gain, feed intake, mortality, and final body weight, but a significant difference was found for feed conversion ratio for the flavonoids+MOS treatment. Carcass and parts yields were not significantly influenced by the treatments. Tbars number, which indicates meat fat oxidation index, was significantly different in both refrigerated and frozen meat. The lowest oxidation index was obtained with the flavonoids+MOS treatments. Under the conditions of the present study, the supplementation of broiler diets with flavonoids+MOS was effective.

Three experiments were carried out to analyze the performance and egg quality of Japanese quails throughout the day when submitted to different lighting programs. In each experiment, birds were submitted to a period of 28 days for adaptation to the lighting program. During the following three days, each day -from 7 am to 7 pm or 9 pm -was divided into six or seven periods of two hours each, and the remaining hours corresponded to another single period. All birds were submitted to the same management practices, and received water and feed ad libitum. The experimental diet was formulated according to NRC (1994) standards. It was observed lower feed intake in the period of 9 pm to 7 am, and a higher incidence of lay from 3 pm to 7 pm, as opposite to hens, which peak of egg laying occurs during the morning. Some controversial results were found among experiments as to eggshell quality during the different periods of the day. Variation on the lighting program had little influence on the other performance and egg quality parameters.

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