Leandro et al., 1999. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec., 51 (2): 177-182

The production performance of Japanese quails receiving increasing levels of pearl millet grain in rations was studied. Two hundred, 70-day-old quails submitted to a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates with ten birds each, were fed with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of pearl millet grain in laying rations. The production and weight of eggs and the feed intake, the mortality rate and yolk color by the use of colorimetric fan were measured, and the feed conversion per dozen eggs and in relation to egg mass were calculated. The results indicated that the production performance of laying quails was not affected by the use of increasing levels of pearl millet grain and that pearl millet is a good corn substitute for Japanese quail, but a yolk pigment should be used in the ration.