DESCRIÇÃO DO CRESCIMENTO DE PENAS DE CODORNAS JAPONESAS

Feathering directly interferes with welfare by representing 30% of the protein weight of the bird. Thus, the objective of the research was to estimate the feather growth parameters of three commercial lines of Japanese quail. A total of 210 Japanese one day quails were used, distributed in a completely randomized design in three treatments, consisting of commercial lines and seven replicates of 10 birds each. Featherweight was collected every seven days, from the third day to the 59th day of age. The values feather were used to estimate the parameters of the Gompertz function, initial feather weight (Pi), feather weight at maturity (Pm) and maturity rate (B). The estimated values for Pi were: 0.286; 0.287 and 0.333 g for Estrela Gaúcha, Fujikura and Vicami, respectively. For Pm, the estimated values were: 9,20; 8.99 and 8.96 g, for Estrela Gaúcha, Fujikura and Vicami, respectively. The maturity rate or parameter B, the estimated values were: 0.1063; 0.1057 and 0.1004 per day for Estrela Gaúcha, Fujikura and Vicami, respectively. The strains showed similar growth profiles.