What metabolic demand related to their appearance requires slightly elevated protein levels for long-tail Yokohama roosters post-juvenile stage?
Answer
The metabolic cost of producing continuous long feather growth (keratin structures)
The continuous and extensive growth of the magnificent tail feathers involves a significant expenditure of the bird's metabolic resources. Since feathers are primarily composed of keratin, producing these massive, growing structures places a high demand on available nutrients, specifically high-quality protein. Therefore, maintaining adequate protein levels, generally cited in the 16% to 20% range during active development, is essential to support this heavy keratin load and maintain feather quality.

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