Optimal Standardized Ileal Digestible Arginine to Lysine Ratio for Japanese Quails in the Egg-Laying Phase

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the optimal standardized ileal digestible arginine to lysine (SID Arg:Lys) ratio for Japanese quails in the egg-laying phase. A total of two hundred forty-five 35-weekold Japanese quails (181 ± 1.30 g initial body weight) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups with seven replicates of seven quails. Graded levels of L-Arginine were added to a basal diet in order to produce five SID Arg:Lys ratios (101, 106, 111, 116 and 121%). Collected data were analyzed as one-way ANOVA and optimal ratio was estimated using polynomial regression model (linear and quadratic) based on performance traits. Statistical differences were considered for p<0.05. Graded SID Arg:Lys ratios did not affect performance traits assessed. Based on results, the SID Arg:Lys ratio of 101% is sufficient to warrant proper performance of Japanese quails in the egg-laying phase.

Arginine requirement for egg production in Japanese quail

“…Table 4 shows the mean values of EP based on the experimental levels. The birds reduced EP with the increasing degree of arginine deficiency in the diet, diverging that the absence of response reported in the literature might be partly related to the use of narrow ranges of experimental levels ( Maurício et al., 2016 ; Maurício et al., 2018 ; Tuesta et al., 2018 ) The present study presents the first supportive evidence that a reduction in arginine levels affects EP ( Table 4 ).…”

“…In the present study, analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) was applied between L1 and L8 to verify the statistical significance of the additional responses obtained with L-arginine supplementation. This was investigated due to reports of arginine having no effect on EP ( Maurício et al., 2016 ; Maurício et al., 2018 ; Tuesta et al., 2018 ). Other studies that also used the dilution technique did not use this amount of rigor to validate the limitation of the amino acid test ( Silva et al., 2019 ; Lima et al., 2020 ; Sarcinelli et al., 2020 ) due to the variability in the responses obtained with this degree of nutritional deficiency.…”

“…Eight studies were found on arginine requirement for Japanese quails in laying and, according to the adjusted models, the stabilization of the responses of the birds started from an intake of 235 ± 9 mg/bird per d. Therefore, the lowest intakes tested by Cavalcante, 2013 : 253 mg/bird per d; Tuesta et al., 2018 : 259 mg/bird per d; and Santos, 2013 : 262 mg/bird per d are the minimum amounts of arginine required to supply the EP. To meet the EO production, the minimum intake established by the linear-plateau model was 232 ± 8 mg/bird per d, which is within the range obtained by Reis et al., 2012 : 289 mg/bird per d, Maurício et al., 2016 : 302 mg/bird per d, and Silva, 2014 : 315 mg/bird per d.…”

“…Eight studies were found on the arginine requirement for Japanese quails in laying phase ( Reis et al., 2012 ; Cavalcante, 2013 ; Santos, 2013 ; Silva, 2014 ; Bülbül et al., 2015 ; Maurício et al., 2016 ; Maurício et al., 2018 ; Tuesta et al., 2018 ) and the arginine requirement ranged from 0.945% to 1.472% or 253 to 377 mg/ bird per day. On the one hand, Ball et al.…”

“…The reported absence of any effects from arginine ( Maurício et al., 2016 ; Maurício et al., 2018 ; Tuesta et al., 2018 ) does not allow analysis of the responses by the birds after being subjected to different intakes. Moreover, it is not possible to determine the degree of dietary limitation of arginine.…”