This study aimedto estimate the energy requirements for maintenance and gain of Japanese andEuropean quails under growth housed in two rearing systems: floor pens and cages.To determine maintenance requirements, two experiments were conducted with birdshoused in cages in environmental chambers (experiment 1) and in floor pens atroom temperature conditions (experiment 2). The experimental design was completelyrandomized with four levels of feed supply (100, 75, 50 and 25%) and four repetitions.Energy requirements for maintenance were estimated by the comparative slaughtermethod through a feeding trial. In experiment 1, 64 Japanese and European quailsper treatment were housed in cages of climatic chambers at 18, 24, and 28 °C,while in experiment 2, 352 quails per treatment were housed in floor pens atroom temperature (26 °C). To estimate gain requirements, five slaughterswere performed with quails receiving feed ad libitum and housed undercontrolled temperature of 18 °C (experiment 3). Prediction equations wereobtained to estimate requirements for maintenance and gain of energy for thetwo genotypes of quails. The room temperature and breeding system affected theestimates of energy requirements for maintenance. The genotypes presented differentestimates for maintenance and gain. Prediction models should be developed consideringthe room temperature and quails' genotypes.
