出版社：Grupo de Pesquisa Metodologias em Ensino e Aprendizagem em Ciências
摘要：The aim was to compare growth curves in meat quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), between gender and diets with different levels of metabolizable energy (ME), using non-linear regression models under Bayesian inference. Body weight records were used for 579 males and 581 females, weighed at birth, at 7, 14, 21, 35 and 42 days of age. The diets were composed by three different levels of metabolizable energy, being 2750; 2950 and 3150 kcal of EM / kg. The models used the functions of Gompertz, Logística, Richards and Von Bertalanffy, considering the parameter related to the maturity rate (K) as random. Markov chains were generated via Gibbs sampler, adopting the Deviance Criterion in choosing the most appropriate model. In both genders. The Gompertz function showed a significantly higher adjustment according to the evaluated criterion, and a lower residual variance estimate, indicating greater precision in the prediction of the animals' body weight. Different absolute growth rates were observed between the genders, so the description of growth curves must be carried by gender. The analyzes indicated that the level of 2750 kcal / kg of ME in the diet promotes growth in a similar way to the other levels in the phase from 1 to 14 days of age in males and from 1 to 21 days of age in females. After these ages, a better performance was observed using the level of 3150 kcal / kg of EM for males and levels of 2950 and 3150 kcal / kg for females.
