Faculty Publications

Assimilated Energy of Seeds Consumed by Scaled Quail in Kansas

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The Journal of Wildlife Management

Volume

51

Issue

4

First Page

787

Last Page

790

Abstract

Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) fed 12 separate foods showed highest energy utilization efficiencies and weight maintenance on Purina Start and Grow mash and dehulled seeds of common sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), pearlmillet pennisetum (Pennisetum glaucum), oil-type sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), and 2 varieties of amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus and A. hypochondriacus × A. cruentus). Kester's dwarf variety of sorghum, canarygrass (Phalaris canariensis), and sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) were metabolized moderately well, whereas Korean lespedeza (Lespedeza stipulacea), and Blackwell and bulk switchgrasses (Panicum virgatum) were poorly utilized. Quail that consumed 79% amaranth and 21% switchgrass, when both seeds were equally available, maintained weight and showed a utilization efficiency equal to quail fed only amaranth. Thus, poorly metabolized seeds may provide >20% of a bird's diet if adequate amounts of well-metabolized seeds also are available.

Department

Department of Biology

Original Publication Date

10-1-1987

DOI of published version

10.2307/3801741

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