High-energy diets with reduced digestible lysine for Japanese laying quails under thermoneutral conditions: effects on laying performance, egg quality, and profitability.
- 1Núcleo de Estudos em Peixes, Aves e Suínos (NEPAS), Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Sinop, Mato Grosso, 78550-728, Brazil. [email protected].
- 2Núcleo de Estudos em Peixes, Aves e Suínos (NEPAS), Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Sinop, Mato Grosso, 78550-728, Brazil.
- 3Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 110124, Nigeria.
Abstract
Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are widely used for commercial egg production, requiring an adequate dietary energy-to-amino acid ratio to support egg production and economic returns. However, current recommendations for laying Japanese quails remain inconsistent due to variations among strains, production phases, and environmental conditions. In this study, the interactive effects between dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible lysine (DL) on laying performance, egg quality, and profitability in quails reared in a climate-controlled environment were assessed. Birds were fed diets formulated to contain three ME levels (2600, 2875, or 3150 kcal/kg) combined with four DL levels (0.90, 1.05, 1.20, or 1.35%) in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement. Responses were monitored over a 32-week experimental period divided into two consecutive 16-week phases (Phase I: 60 to 172 days; Phase II: 173 to 285 days of age). Compared with lower-ME diets, increasing dietary ME to 3150 kcal/kg improved the laying percentage, egg mass, feed-to-egg ratio, and profitability (P < 0.05). Conversely, increasing dietary DL above the lowest level tested (0.90%) provided no additional productive or economic benefits, despite ME-dependent interactions affecting eggshell traits and body weight. These findings suggest that, in climate-controlled production systems, Japanese laying quails may benefit from greater dietary energy density than some current recommendations indicate, whereas additional DL supplementation above 0.90% was not associated with consistent improvements in laying performance and profitability. Therefore, high-energy diets formulated with 3150 kcal/kg ME combined with 0.90% DL supported egg production and egg quality while improving feed efficiency and profitability under thermoneutral conditions.
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BibTeX
@article{ton2026highenergy,
title = {{High-energy diets with reduced digestible lysine for Japanese laying quails under thermoneutral conditions: effects on laying performance, egg quality, and profitability.}},
author = {Ana Paula S Ton and Lidiane Staub and Aldemar M de Jesus and Anderson Corassa and Adedoyin T Amos and Adriana G do Amaral and Ednaldo A de Andrade and Leonardo W de Freitas and Maicon Sbardella},
journal = {Tropical animal health and production},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s11250-026-05412-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894048},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - High-energy diets with reduced digestible lysine for Japanese laying quails under thermoneutral conditions: effects on laying performance, egg quality, and profitability.
AU - Ana Paula S Ton
AU - Lidiane Staub
AU - Aldemar M de Jesus
AU - Anderson Corassa
AU - Adedoyin T Amos
AU - Adriana G do Amaral
AU - Ednaldo A de Andrade
AU - Leonardo W de Freitas
AU - Maicon Sbardella
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/18
JO - Tropical animal health and production
DO - 10.1007/s11250-026-05412-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894048
AB - Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are widely used for commercial egg production, requiring an adequate dietary energy-to-amino acid ratio to support egg production and economic returns. However, current recommendations for laying Japanese quails remain inconsistent due to variations among strains, production phases, and environmental conditions. In this study, the interactive effects between dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible lysine (DL) on laying performance, egg quality, and profitability in quails reared in a climate-controlled environment were assessed. Birds were fed diets formulated to contain three ME levels (2600, 2875, or 3150 kcal/kg) combined with four DL levels (0.90, 1.05, 1.20, or 1.35%) in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement. Responses were monitored over a 32-week experimental period divided into two consecutive 16-week phases (Phase I: 60 to 172 days; Phase II: 173 to 285 days of age). Compared with lower-ME diets, increasing dietary ME to 3150 kcal/kg improved the laying percentage, egg mass, feed-to-egg ratio, and profitability (P < 0.05). Conversely, increasing dietary DL above the lowest level tested (0.90%) provided no additional productive or economic benefits, despite ME-dependent interactions affecting eggshell traits and body weight. These findings suggest that, in climate-controlled production systems, Japanese laying quails may benefit from greater dietary energy density than some current recommendations indicate, whereas additional DL supplementation above 0.90% was not associated with consistent improvements in laying performance and profitability. Therefore, high-energy diets formulated with 3150 kcal/kg ME combined with 0.90% DL supported egg production and egg quality while improving feed efficiency and profitability under thermoneutral conditions.
SN - 0049-4747
SN - 1573-7438
ER -