Physiological variables and egg quality from quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) that received water with increasing levels of NaCl and under different temperatures

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of water salinity and ambient temperature on the physiological variables and the quality of Japanese quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in the laying phase. The quails received water with increasing levels of salinity (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1) and were kept in climatic chambers under two different temperatures (24ºC and 32ºC). The design used was completely randomised, with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement (temperatures and salinity levels), with six replicates of eight birds each. Data were submitted for analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5%. There was no influence (P > 0.05) of water salinity levels on the physiological variables nor on the quality of the birds’ eggs. At 32oC there was an increase (P < 0.05) in respiratory rate, cloacal and body surface temperature of the birds, and a slight reduction (P < 0.05) in the weight of eggs, shells, and percentage of shell. For laying quails, water with salinity levels of up to 6.0 dSm-1 can be used and the birds can be raised in an environment with temperatures up to 32ºC.

Threonine-to-lysine ratio in laying hens: physiological parameters and organ weight

“…The highest AST average was observed between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, with 33.9 and 34.3°C, respectively, concomitant with the highest BGTHI average at 1:00 pm, with a value of approximately 80. For Vieira et al (2021) and Rodrigues et al (2021), the surface temperature depends directly on the environment's conditions: sudden changes in the meteorological variables in the place where the animal is found results in changes in the surface temperature. Similar results were obtained by Nascimento, Pereira, Nâãs, and Rodrigues (2011), who found a decrease in surface temperature with increasing age in male broilers raised under natural conditions of temperature and humidity.…”

Thermographic evaluation and sensible heat emission of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) kept at different temperatures

“…Quail farming is a growing activity in arid and semi-arid regions, birds that are adapted to these regions, with small size, early sexual maturity and high productivity, where small spaces and little labour are used for their production (Khalilipour, Maheri;Shaddel, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2021;Furtado et al, 2022). Quails reared in Brazil's semi-arid region during the hottest times of the day can become heat-stressed, requiring corrective measures in management and facilities to maintain their production (Silva et al, 2022;Silva et al, 2023) sendo esta região caracterizada por um balanço hídrico negativo resultante de uma precipitação média anual inferior a 800 mm, uma insolação de 2800 h/ano, uma temperatura média anual entre 23 e 28 °C, uma evaporação de 2000 mm/ano e uma humidade relativa do ar de cerca de 60% (Gois et al, 2017;Hussein, Abd El-Ati, & Saleem, 2020).…”

“…Quails kept under heat stress decrease feed consumption (Furtado et al, 2022) and increase water consumption (Barbosa et al, 2014;Guimarães et al, 2014;Villanueva et al, 2015), as a way of replacing water lost through respiration and faecal and urinary excretion, to avoid dehydration, maintain homeothermia and minimise heat stress (Scottá et al, 2017;Rodrigues et al, 2021), but can negatively affect the production and quality of quail eggs (Vercese et al, 2012;Barbosa et al, 2014;Rodrigues et al, 2021). Laying quails produce well in warm environments (PETRUCCI et al, 2017;SILVA et al, 2017;Akdemir et al, 2019;Rodrigues et al, 2022).…”

“…Thermal discomfort triggers thermoregulatory mechanisms such as sweating and peripheral vasodilation, which results in a reduction in blood pressure, compensated for by an increase in heart rate and, subsequently, an increase in respiratory rate (Rodrigues et al, 2021).…”

“…When an animal becomes stressed, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis is activated and heat is produced as a result of increased concentrations of catecholamines and cortisol, as well as blood puff responses, producing changes in the animal's heat production and loss (Silva et al, 2022). As the temperature rises, the birds' surface temperature increases, which can compromise their productive performance (Rodrigues et al, 2021). The aim of this research was to analyse the surface temperature and sensible heat emission of quails kept in a climate chamber using thermographic images.…”