To evaluate the effect of probiotic (Lactobacillus sp.) associated with different crude protein (CP) levels on performance, CP nutritional requirements, carcass and cut yields of meat quails, a total of 2304 meat quails were distributed in a 2 × 4 factorial design (with and without probiotic and four CP levels - 15, 20, 25 and 30%), with two replications per treatment, repeated twice in time (two experimental periods), totalizing 32 experimental units. The addition of probiotic decreased the feed intake and improved the feed conversion rate at 1 to 7 days of age. According to the mean weight of the LRP model, at 7 and 14 days, the requirement estimations were of 27% of CP and at 21, 28 and 35 days, the requirements were from 22 to 24% of CP. The addition of probiotic did not influence carcass and cut yields. For the carcass yield, the CP requirement, according to the quadratic model, was estimated in 23.53%; however, in relation to LRP, the estimative decrease to 17.13% of CP. It was possible to conclude that in the environmental conditions evaluated, the addition of probiotic did not influence the performance, CP nutritional requirement and carcass yield of meat quails. The CP requirements for birds of up to 14 days of age were of 27% and, after this age, there are evidences of reduction to values from 22 to 24%.
feed conversion; lactobacillus; leg yield; breeding viability
