Mg. Macleod et La. Dabutha, DIET SELECTION BY JAPANESE-QUAIL (COTURNIX-COTURNIX-JAPONICA) IN RELATION TO AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE AND METABOLIC-RATE, British Poultry Science, 38(5), 1997, pp. 586-589
1. A choice between a high-energy, wheat-based, low protein mixture an
d a lower-energy, soya-based, high protein mixture was offered to grow
ing Japanese quail at ambient temperatures of 20 degrees, 25 degrees,
30 degrees and 35 degrees C. 2. The quail were kept in open-circuit re
spiration calorimeters, so that diet selection could be related to ene
rgy requirement. 3. Increasing ambient temperature had no significant
effect on food intake by weight, but the proportion of the high energy
choice decreased and, conversely, the proportion of the lower-energy
but higher-protein choice increased. 4. Energy intake was therefore ne
gatively correlated with ambient temperature, but protein intake per u
nit of energy intake increased, allowing the birds to gain weight at a
bout the same rate at all temperatures. 5. Heat production decreased a
s ambient temperature increased. Respiratory quotient decreased with i
ncreasing temperature, which indicates a reduced utilisation of carboh
ydrate as an energy source. 6. Water intake increased with temperature
but there were no overt signs of heat stress and there was no signifi
cant change in body temperature. 7. Japanese quail selected a dietary
mixture which maintained similar growth rates over a wide range of amb
ient temperature, by sustaining protein intake but altering energy int
ake in line with thermoregulatory energy demands.