Zaragoza HC, Mendoza MGD, Ibarra ZS, Crosby GMM, Clemente SF, Aguilar VB

Language: English/Spanish
References: 29
Page: 215-223
PDF size: 480.25 Kb.

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to analyze winter diet of Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) in the northwest-ern region of the State of Mexico. Fourteen quails were collected during 1999-2000 winter season and their crops were analyzed. The volume and dry matter (DM) of each food item was determined by con-ventional procedures. Bulbs of Oxalis alpino were the main feed with 61.43% of DM followed by legume seeds (22.94%), corn grain (10.76%), wheat seed (4.71%), and inorganic matter (0.15%). Since Oxalis was also one of the main plant species in the Montezuma quail’s habitat, nutrient concentration was analyzed. Bulbs had a mean composition of 93.7% DM, 92.6% organic matter, 6.82% fat, 6.92% crude protein, 49.61% neutral detergent fi ber and 41.52% acid detergent fi ber. With the exception of arginine, essential amino acid concentration (mg/g protein) was low (serine 20.2; histidine 10.2; glycine 22.3; threonine 18.2; arginine 90.0; methionine 15.5; valine 6.6; phenylalanine 10.5; isoleucine 17.3; leucine 20.4; and lysine 16.9). These results indicate that the Oxalis bulb is an important energetic source with low quality protein. During winter, legumes provide essential amino acids. Oxalis biomass varied from 0.75 to 5.00 DM/m2 in sampled plots. This study confi rms the importance of Oxalis bulbs in the State of Mexico as the main feed source for Montezuma quail in winter.

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