The aim of this experiment was to determine the best level of salt for Japaneselaying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Three hundred and thirty-sixquails with 13 weeks of age were housed in cages with 118 cm2/quailfor 84 days (four cycles of 21 days each). The experiment was analyzed as acomplete randomized design with seven treatments (0, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30,0.35, and 0.45% of salt) with six replicates of eight quails per pen. Every21 days, the productive performance (% of production, feed intake and feed gainratio [kg/kg and kg/dozen]) and egg quality (average egg weight, egg mass, eggshellpercentage and thickness and Unit Haugh) were evaluated. Data were submittedto analyses of variance and regression, and the means, compared by Dunnett testat 5% of significance. Regression equation showed no treatment effect on productiveperformance. However, by the comparison among the means it was observed thatthe birds fed diet with salt addition showed higher values of performance andexternal egg quality than control (without salt). The 0.15% salt level (equivalentto 0.10% of Na and 0.12% of Cl) was sufficient to obtain these results.
