The objective ofthis experiment was to estimate the digestible lysine and metabolizable energy(ME) requirements for growing meat quails (Coturnix coturnix sp). A totalof 1,680 quails from 4 to 35 days of age of both sexes were used in a completerandom experimental design in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme (DL = 0.92; 1.12;1.32 and 1.52% × ME = 2,800; 2,900; 3,000 and 3,100 kcal/kg of the ration)totaling 16 diets evaluated with 3 replications of 35 quails per experimentaldiet. Increase of the levels of digestible lysine in the diet linearly increasedbody weight, weight gain, lysine intake and breast yield and reduced water contentin the cuts. When levels of metabolizable energy were increased in the diet,it was observed a linear reduction on consumption of lysine and an increaseof body weight and abdominal fat yield. However, The simultaneous increase oflevels of lysine and metabolizable energy in the diet linearly reduced feedintake and linearly improved feed conversion in the 4-35 day period, but itincreased fat content in the cuts. The nutritional requirement of digestiblelysine for maximum growth of meat quails is greater than or equal to 1.52%.The level of 2,800 kcal/kg ME in ration is sufficient to allow a good performanceof the birds, however, for a better feed conversion, greater levels are needed.
