Three experiments were carried out to estimate the calcium and phosphorus requirements of meat quail. In the first experiment (1-14 days of age), 1,250 meat quails were placed in a 5 × 5 factorial arrangement (calcium levels = 0.65, 0.76, 0.87, 0.98 and 1.09% × phosphorus levels = 0.12, 0.22, 0.32, 0.42 and 0.52%), totaling 25 treatments, with two replications of 25 birds per experimental unit. The different calcium levels did not affect bird performance. Body weight, weight gain and optic density were influenced in a quadratic form by phosphorus levels and the phosphorus requirement was estimated at 0.41%. The levels of 0.65% calcium and 0.41% phosphorus in diet were enough to meet the requirement of initial phase meat quail. In the second experiment (15-35 days of age), 1,500 meat quails were placed in a 5 × 5 factorial arrangement (calcium levels = 0.61, 0.71, 0.81, 0.91 and 1.01% × phosphorus levels = 0.29, 0.34, 0.39, 0.44 and 0.49%), totaling 25 treatments, with two replications of 30 birds per experimental unit. Differences were not observed of the calcium and phosphorus levels on bird performance. Optic density was influenced in a quadratic form by phosphorus levels and the phosphorus requirement was estimated at 0.41%. In the third experiment, to assess the calcium and phosphorus balance (28-35 days of age), a linear effect was observed on the calcium intake and excretion with the increase in the calcium levels in the diets. The levels of 0.61% calcium and 0.41% phosphorus in the diet were enough to meet the requirement of finishing meat quail. The calcium levels did not affect bird performance at 1-14 and 15-35 days of age, showing, respectively, 0.65 and 0.61% calcium levels were enough to meet the of meat quail requirement. The estimate of 0.41% phosphorus promoted performance of finishing meat quail.
balance; bone; optic density; performance
