Limiting amino acids in low protein maize-soyabean meal diets fed to broiler chicks from 3 to 7 weeks of age

• Published in: British poultry science Vol. 32; no. 1; p. 151
• Main Authors: Holsheimer, J P, Janssen, W M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.1991
• Subjects: Age Factors; Amino Acids - administration & dosage; Amino Acids - metabolism; Animal Feed - standards; Animals; Chickens - growth & development; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Dietary Proteins - metabolism; Eating; Female; Glycine max; Male; Sex Factors; Weight Gain; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0007-1668
• DOI: 10.1080/00071669108417336

1. An experiment with separately housed male and female broiler chicks was carried out during the period of 3 to 7 weeks of age to determine the limiting amino acids (AA) in a low protein maize-soyabean meal diet. Chicks were fed on diets containing 170, 180, 190 and 200 g crude protein (CP)/kg with or without combined additions of L-threonine (Thr), L-tryptophan (Trp) and L-arginine (Arg) to those in the 180, 190 or 200 g CP/kg diets and a 170 g CP/kg diet with or without combined additions of Thr, Trp, Arg, L-isoleucine (Ile), L-leucine (Leu) and L-valine (Val) to those in the 190 g CP/kg diet. The diets were iso-energetic and contained the same concentrations of lysine (Lys) and sulphur-containing amino acids. 2. Decreasing the dietary CP had a significantly negative effect on performance. 3. No significant effects on performance were found when diets with 180 and 190 g CP/kg were supplemented with Thr, Trp and Arg to those in the 200 g CP/kg diet. 4. There were no significant differences in performance between the groups fed on the diets with 170, 180 and 190 g CP/kg when the 170 and 180 g CP/kg diets were supplemented with Thr, Trp and Arg to those in the 190 g CP/kg diet.