Marginal deficiencies of dietary arginine and methionine could suppress growth performance and immunological responses in broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary arginine (Arg) and methionine (Met) on performance, immune responses, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 540 day‐old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned into the nine experimental diets, consisting five replicates of 12 birds each. Dietary treatments included three different levels (90%, 100%, and 110% of National Research Council [NRC] specifications) of either dietary Arg or Met, which were fed to the birds according to a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments during a 42 days feeding trial. Results showed that supplementation of Arg and Met into the deficient‐diets increased (p < .01) weight gains during all trial periods. Although average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not influenced by dietary treatments, increasing Arg up to 100% of NRC recommendations improved (p < .05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) throughout the trial period. Similarly, supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met improved FCR values. There was a significant (p < .01) Arg × Met interaction for ADFI during the starter period; increasing the dietary Arg level increased ADFI when the diets were deficient in Met, while had an opposite effect in diets containing higher dietary Met levels. On the other hand, dietary Met fortification improved (p = .067) FCR values to a greater extent in 110% Arg‐diets during the entire trial period. Although different levels of Arg and Met had no marked effects on carcass yield and abdominal fat percentage, supplemental Arg up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .01) the relative weights of spleen and bursa of Fabricius. Furthermore, bursa weight was affected by Arg × Met interaction (p < .01), so that supplemental Arg level of 100% of NRC increased the relative bursa weight in birds that were fed diets containing 90% and 110% of Met. Serum uric acid level was decreased (p < .05) as a result of dietary Arg fortification up to 110% of NRC recommended values. Supplementation of deficient‐diets with Met decreased (p < .05) serum cholesterol level. Although Newcastle antibody titer was not affected by dietary Arg or Met levels, Arg fortification of deficient‐diets increased (p < .001) antibody responses against infectious bronchitis (IBV) and bursal (IBD) disease viruses. Similarly, Met supplementation of deficient‐diets increased IBD antibody titer. There were significant (p < .05) Arg × Met interactions for IBV and IBD titers; Met fortification of 110% Arg‐diets was more effective in increasing antibody titers. An increase in dietary Met level up to 100% of NRC values increased (p < .001) serum concentration of γ‐globulins. The present findings imply that supplemental Arg could affect feed efficiency and antibody responses when the diets were already fortified with a sufficient Met level.     

Comparative effects of individual amino acid excesses when added to a corn-soybean meal diet: effects on growth and dietary choice in the chick

Six experiments were conducted with 8-d-old crossbred chicks to evaluate the effects of 4% excesses of DL-methionine (Met), L-phenylalanine (Phe), L-tryptophan (Trp), L-lysine (Lys), L-histidine (His), L-threonine (Thr), L-isoleucine (Ile), L-arginine (Arg), L-valine (Val) or L-leucine (Leu) on growth or dietary "choice" (i.e., self-selection) when added to 23% protein corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diets. Arginine and His were supplied as the free base and Lys as Lys X acetate to avoid acid-base problems. In the growth studies, weight gain was reduced 92, 79, 53, 50, 47, 31, 29, 15, 9, 4 and 0% by additions of 4% Met, Phe, Trp, His, Lys, Tyr, Thr, Ile, Arg, Val and Leu, respectively. Improvements (P less than .05) in weight gain, feed intake and gain/feed occurred by addition of 1% Arg to the C-SBM diet supplemented with 4% excess Phe or Tyr. Addition of 1% Arg to the C-SBM diet supplemented with 4% excesses of most of the other amino acids also tended to improve performance, although diets imbalanced with Lys, Val or Leu did not respond to supplemental Arg. Self-selection studies revealed that chicks preferred the C-SBM diet containing 4% excess Lys over diets containing 4% excesses of Met, Thr, Arg or Trp. Moreover, chicks preferred diets with 4% excess Met, Thr or Arg over those containing an equal excess of Trp. When given a choice between the C-SBM diet and this diet supplemented with 4% Leu, chicks consumed similar quantities of both diets.     

Estimation of the standardized ileal digestible lysine requirement for primiparous pregnant sows

This experiment was conducted to determine the optimal standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) level in diets fed to primiparous sows during gestation. A total of 150 (Landrace × Large White) crossbred gilts (weighing 149.9 ± 3.1 kg) were fed gestation diets (12.55 MJ of ME/kg) containing SID Lys levels of 0.43, 0.52, 0.60, 0.70 or 0.80% respectively. Gilts were fed 2.0 kg/day from day 1 to 80 and 3.0 kg/day from day 80 to 110 of gestation respectively. Gilts were allocated to treatments based on their body weight on the day of breeding. Weight gain from day 80 to 110 increased with increasing dietary SID Lys levels (p = 0.044). Fitted broken‐line (p = 0.031) and quadratic plot (p = 0.047) analysis of body weight gain indicated that the optimal SID Lys level for primiparous sows was 0.70 and 0.69% respectively. During gestation, neither backfat thickness nor loin eye area was affected by dietary SID Lys level. Increasing dietary Lys had no effect on the litter size at birth or pigs born alive per litter. Litter weight at birth was not affected by dietary SID Lys level. The litter weight variation at birth quadratically decreased with increasing dietary SID Lys (p = 0.021) and was minimized at 0.70% dietary SID Lys. Gilts fed the 0.70% SID Lys diet had the highest dry matter (p = 0.031) and protein (p = 0.044) content in colostrum. On day 110 of gestation, gilts fed the 0.70% SID Lys diet tended to have the highest serum prolactin (p = 0.085) and serum insulin (p = 0.074) levels. The data demonstrate that the optimal dietary SID Lys was 0.70% for pregnant gilts, which is similar to the recommendation of 0.69% that was estimated by the NRC (2012).     

蛋白水平及Lys/Met对早期断奶藏羔羊生长发育的影响

旨在研究藏羔羊早期断奶料蛋白水平及Lys/Met配比对其生长发育的影响。试验选取(55±2)日龄断奶、体重(10.85±0.65)kg藏羔羊98只,随机分为7组,每组14只,公母各半。分别饲喂不同蛋白水平和Lys/Met配比的藏羔羊早期断奶料,试验期20 d。结果:藏羔羊早期断奶料蛋白水平在15%～21%,随断奶料蛋白水平的提高,采食量和日增重增加、腹泻率降低、血清蛋白含量增加;18%蛋白,Lys/Met配比为3.1∶1的日粮最为合理,可以替代21%高蛋白断奶料;在15%蛋白水平的日粮,Lys/Met配比为3.1∶1最为合理,可以替代18%中蛋白断奶料。结果提示:早期断奶料营养水平影响藏羔羊早期的生长发育和血清指标,本试验推荐的早期断奶藏羔羊断奶料适宜的配比为18%蛋白水平和Lys/Met配比为3.1∶1。     

Isoleucine and valine supplementation of a low-protein corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet for piglets: growth performance and nitrogen balance

The effects of Ile and Val supplementation of a low-CP, corn-wheat-soybean meal-based piglet diet on growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, and N balance were studied using 60 Landrace x Duroc male piglets in a 4-wk experiment. The 60 individually caged piglets were divided into 5 dietary treatments, each consisting of 12 piglets. Diet 1 was a positive control diet (20% CP); diet 2 was a low-CP negative control diet (17% CP); diets 3, 4, and 5 were low-CP diets to which Ile, Val, or the combination of Ile and Val were added, respectively. All diets were supplemented with Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp to provide the required concentrations of these AA according to the 1998 NRC. Average daily gain and ADFI were similar among pigs fed the positive control, Val-added, and the Val plus Ile-added diets. On wk-2 and wk-4, fecal score was greater (softer feces) in piglets fed the 20% CP level compared with the remaining treatments (P < 0.01). Nitrogen intake was decreased (P < 0.0001) in pigs fed diets containing low levels of CP compared with pigs fed the 20% CP diet. Fecal N excretion (g/d) was decreased (P < 0.05) in piglets fed low-CP diets at wk 1 and wk 4 of feeding, and in urine at wk 4 of feeding. Crude protein levels or AA supplementation had no effect on N retention efficiencies. These results indicate that the supplementation of Val alone, or in combination with Ile, to a low-CP piglet diet with adequate levels of Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp is necessary to achieve maximum performance in pigs consuming corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diets.     

Effects of Excess Methionine from Meeting Needs for Total Sulfur Amino Acids on Utilization of Diets Low in Crude Protein by Broiler Chicks

Failure to obtain optimum performance by broilers fed low CP diets supplemented with amino acids may be due to a number of factors, including potential toxic effects of amino acids in excess of requirements. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of excess levels of Met on performance of broilers fed low CP diets. Corn and soybean meal of known composition were used to formulate diets with 22, 20, 18, and 16% CP with 100 and 110% of NRC recommendations. DL-Methionine was used to meet Met and TSAA requirements; the dietary levels of Met exceeded minimum needs. Within each CP level, 2 additional series were prepared. For one series, only the amount of DL-methionine needed to reach the Met requirement was added, leaving a calculated deficit of TSAA. For a second series, excess Met was replaced with sufficient Cys to meet Met and TSAA exactly. Each of the test diets and a 23% CP positive control were fed to 6 replicate pens of 5 male broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. Performance of the birds fed 22% CP diets did not differ significantly from that of chicks fed the positive control. Chicks fed diets with less than 22% CP had significantly lower BW and increased FCR regardless of level of amino acid supplementation. There was no significant effect of Met status on performance, indicating that corn-soybean meal diets do not appear to be deficit in Cys and do not respond to levels of Met greater than minimum NRC recommendations for Met. Excess levels of Met in this study did not appear to contribute to the reduced performance at low CP levels.     

1～21日龄爱拔益加×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸适宜水平研究

本试验旨在研究1~21日龄爱拔益加(AA)×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸的适宜水平。采用L_9(3~4)正交试验设计,饲粮代谢能水平分别为11.70、12.12、12.54 M J/kg;粗蛋白质水平分别为19.00%、20.00%、21.00%;蛋氨酸水平分别为0.45%、0.50%、0.55%;赖氨酸水平分别为1.00%、1.10%、1.20%。选取1日龄AA×罗曼肉杂鸡864只,随机分为9组,每组6个重复,每个重复16只,试验期21 d。通过饲养试验、屠宰试验等方法检测不同营养水平饲粮的饲喂效果。结果表明:1)饲粮粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸水平对试验鸡平均日增重有显著影响(P0.05),21.00%粗蛋白质水平组显著高于20.00%粗蛋白质水平组(P0.05),0.50%蛋氨酸水平组显著高于0.55%蛋氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.20%赖氨酸水平组显著高于1.10%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。2)饲粮代谢能水平对21日龄试验鸡活体总能含量有显著影响(P0.05),12.12 MJ/kg代谢能水平组显著高于12.54 MJ/kg代谢能水平组(P0.05);饲粮蛋氨酸水平对试验鸡活体粗脂肪含量有显著影响(P0.05),0.50%和0.55%蛋氨酸水平组显著高于0.45%蛋氨酸水平组(P0.05)。3)饲粮代谢能和粗蛋白质水平对21日龄试验鸡活体能量沉积率有显著影响(P0.05),11.70和12.12 MJ/kg代谢能水平组显著高于12.54 MJ/kg代谢能水平组(P0.05),21.00%粗蛋白质水平组显著高于20.00%和19.00%粗蛋白质水平组(P0.05);1.10%赖氨酸水平组的试验鸡活体赖氨酸沉积率显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。4)饲粮赖氨酸水平对试验鸡血清葡萄糖、尿酸、尿素氮水平有显著影响(P0.05),1.00%赖氨酸水平组血清葡萄糖水平最高,显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.10%赖氨酸水平组血清尿酸水平最高,显著高于1.20%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05),1.20%赖氨酸水平组血清尿素氮水平最高,显著高于1.10%赖氨酸水平组(P0.05)。5)由回归分析得出1~21日龄AA×罗曼肉杂鸡饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸适宜水平的计算公式分别为ME=45.33W~(0.75)+183.84△W,CP=19.77 W~(0.75)+626.47△W,Met=1.44 W~(0.75)+10.31△W,Lys=3.01 W~(0.75)+21.28△W(M E为代谢能,W~(0.75)为代谢体重,△W为平均日增重,CP为粗蛋白质,Met为蛋氨酸,Lys为赖氨酸),根据公式计算得出饲粮代谢能、粗蛋白质、蛋氨酸和赖氨酸的适宜水平分别为11.90 MJ/kg、21.08%、0.51%和1.05%。     

Modelling the optimal lysine to threonine ratio in growing chickens depending on age and efficiency of dietary amino acid utilisation

1. Experiments were conducted to establish the requirements and optimal dietary ratio of lysine to threonine for fast growing male chickens (genotype Ross 308) depending on age, daily protein deposition and of dietary amino acid efficiency. 2. A total of 216 growing chickens were utilised in nitrogen-balance studies in three age periods (10 to 25 d; 30 to 45 d; 50 to 65 d) using graded levels of protein supply (60 to 360 g/kg crude protein) in lysine or threonine limiting diets. 3. Supplementation of crystalline amino acids (L-Lys, L-Thr, DL-Met and L-Arg) provided the following amino acid ratios: lysine limiting diets (Lys:Met + Cys:Thr:Arg = 1 : 1.01 : 0.91 : 1.14), threonine limiting diets (Lys : Met + Cys : Thr : Arg = 1 : 0.85 : 0.54 : 1.16). 4. The principles of the diet dilution technique using an exponential function were applied for the modelling of lysine and threonine requirements. For equal daily protein deposition, optimal lysine to threonine ratios 1 : 0.69 (10 to 25 d), 1 : 0.70 (30 to 45 d) and 1 : 0.74 (50 to 65 d) were established. 5. For the commercial growth period of fast growing chickens, the derived optimal lysine to threonine ratio was constant (1 : 0.69). The applied modelling procedure gave conclusions for quantitative requirements and optimal dietary lysine:threonine ratios in line with actual recommendations.     

Effects of Intestinal Modification by Antibiotics and Antibacterials on Utilization of Methionine Sources by Broiler Chickens

A study was conducted to determine if the response to different sources of Met was influenced by the presence or absence of antibiotics and antibacterials that might alter intestinal microflora. A Met-deficient diet (0.33% by analysis), based on corn and soybean meal, was fed with or without a mixture providing 200 g/ton of bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 200 g/ton of chlortetracycline, 100 g/ton of penicillin, and 100 g/ton of sulfaquinoxaline. Diets were fortified with DL-Met or the liquid form of 2-hydroxy-4-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) to provide supplemental levels of Met ranging from 0.0 to 0.20% in increments of 0.04%, based on 99% activity for DLDL-Met and 88% activity for HMB. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 diet types (medicated and unmedicated), 2 Met sources (DL-Met and HMB) at 6 levels of supplementation for a total of 24 dietary treatments. Each of these was fed to 6 replicate pens of 5 male chicks from 0 to 21 d, stratified across tiers in the battery.Feeding the medicated diets resulted in a significant reduction in intestinal bacterial as measured by total aerobic plate count of ileal contents, with significant improvements in BW and feed conversion. However, there were no significant interactions between the medications and the response to the 2 sources of Met. There was no difference in BW or feed conversion related to the 2 different sources of Met when fed to provide equimolar amounts of Met activity. Chicks responded to increasing levels of Met, but there was no interaction between source and level of Met for BW or feed conversion. Peak response appeared to occur at approximately 0.08% supplemental (0.41% total) Met, somewhat below current NRC recommendations. It does not appear that a difference in antibiotic content of test diets is responsible for the discrepancy in reported responses to the 2 sources of Met.     

Evaluating the effects of supplemental B vitamins in practical swine diets during the starter and grower-finisher periods--a regional study

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate dietary fortification levels of a B vitamin pre-mix for starter and grower-finisher pigs on subsequent performance responses. The objective was to determine whether the modern pig requires higher dietary levels of B vitamins than estimated by the NRC (1998). Both experiments added fat-soluble vitamins at the requirement levels (NRC, 1998) in all diets, whereas the B vitamins were added at 0, 100, 200, or 400% of the total NRC (1998) requirement levels for the starter and grower pig. Indigenous vitamin contributions from the feed grains were not included in the estimates. Each station used the same vitamin premixes but incorporated its own grain sources in the diets. The first experiment was conducted across 7 stations (Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas) and involved 660 pigs in a randomized complete block design in 30 replicates. Complex nursery diets were fed in 2 phases. The first phase (0 to 14 d postweaning) and second phase (15 to 35 d postweaning) diets were formulated to Lys (total) levels of 1.50 and 1.30%, respectively. The results demonstrated no performance response to addition of B vitamins from 0 to 14 d post-weaning, but performances increased quadratically (P < 0.01) to the 100% NRC level from 14 to 35 d postweaning and for the overall 35-d period. The second experiment was conducted across 3 stations (Ohio, Nebraska, and South Dakota) and involved 216 pigs in a randomized complete block design in 10 replicates. Corn-soybean meal mixtures were fed in 3 phases formulated to total Lys levels of 1.30% (23 to 55 kg of BW), 1.00% (55 to 85 kg of BW), and 0.78% (85 to 120 kg of BW). Pig performances increased (P < 0.01) to the 100% B vitamin level from 23 to 85 kg of BW, but there was no response to any level from 85 to 120 kg of BW. Carcass measurements demonstrated a greater LM area (P < 0.01) and a lower backfat depth (P < 0.01) to the 100% B vitamin level. One station evaluated an additional treatment (3 replicates) in which each replicate was fed a fifth diet containing the 100% dietary level of B vitamins from 23 to 85 kg of BW whereupon the B vitamins were removed from 85 to 120 kg of BW. This removal did not reduce pig performance responses for the final period or for the overall period. The results demonstrated that supplementation of B vitamins at the 100% total NRC levels for starter and grower pigs was sufficient to meet their needs, and there was no further improvement to or deleterious effect to greater dietary levels.     

Effect of diets with different inclusion levels of distillers dried grain with solubles combined with lysine and methionine supplementation on the lipid peroxidation and glutathione status of chickens

To study the possible effects of different inclusion levels of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) on the lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox status of chickens, 200 three-week-old Ross 308 cockerels were assigned to four treatment groups of 50 birds each. The groups were fed a control and three experimental, isocaloric and isonitrogenous grower diets containing 15, 20 and 25% DDGS, respectively, combined with lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met) supplementation until 6 weeks of age. It was found that DDGS inclusion increased the ether extract content of the diets which resulted in higher reduced glutathione (GSH) content and elevated glutathione peroxidase activity (GSHPx) in the liver. However, DDGS addition with Lys and Met supplementation did not influence the malondialdehyde content of the blood and the liver. The oleic acid proportion of the diet showed a close positive correlation with GSH content of the liver. A smaller ratio of methionine and cysteine in the diet with DDGS resulted in significantly higher liver GSH content. GSHPx activity increased parallel with the elevated GSH content of the liver homogenate, suggesting that the enzyme is activated by the actual supply of its co-substrate. In conclusion, the results show that DDGS, even at a high inclusion level combined with Lys and Met supplementation, has no initiative effect on lipid peroxidation in the blood and liver of broiler chickens.     

低蛋白质饲粮中添加DL-蛋氨酸和赖氨酸对冬毛期蓝狐生产性能、氮平衡及毛皮质量的影响

本文旨在探讨低蛋白质饲粮中添加DL-蛋氨酸和赖氨酸对冬毛生长期蓝狐生长性能、氮平衡和毛皮质量的影响,并研究低蛋白质饲粮中蛋氨酸和赖氨酸的最适添加量.对照组饲粮蛋白质水平为27%(P27),低蛋白质饲粮蛋白质水平为19%(P19),选择健康的生长后期雄性蓝狐120只(17周龄左右),随机分成10组,每组12只.本试验采用3×3双因子交叉试验设计,有3个赖氨酸水平(0.3%、0.5%、0.7%)和3个含硫氨基酸水平(0.4%、0.6%、0.8%),试验组编号分别为P27、L1M1、L1M2、L1M3、L2M1、L2M2、L2M3、L3M1、L3M2和L3M3,饲养试验试验期为61 d(2007-10-12～2007-12-12).结果表明,如果考虑蓝狐平均日增重、日氮沉积、氮沉积率,0.6%的蛋氨酸水平最佳;如果考虑日氮沉积和毛皮质量,0.3%和0.5%的赖氨酸水平最佳;如果考虑氮的表观消化率、日粪氮排出量,0.3%的赖氨酸水平最佳;各处理蓝狐的毛皮质量与对照组差异不显著(P＞0.05).综合各项指标,L1M2 (0.3% Lys×0.6% Met)组蓝狐生产性能最佳;低蛋白质饲粮中添加蛋氨酸和赖氨酸不影响冬毛期蓝狐的生产性能;应用低蛋白质饲粮降低了排泄物中氮的含量,减轻了环境污染,节约了蛋白质资源.     

Estimation of the standardized ileal digestible lysine requirement and optimal sulphur amino acids to lysine ratio for 30–50 kg pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) requirement and the ideal SID sulphur amino acids (SAA) to Lys ratio for 30–50 kg crossbred pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 72 crossbred pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 28.9 kg were allotted to one of six dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Each diet was assigned to six pens containing two pigs each. Six diets were obtained by supplementing graded levels of L‐Lysine?HCl to create six dietary levels of SID Lys (0.70%, 0.80%, 0.90%, 1.00%, 1.10% and 1.20%). Responses of weight gain (ADG) and gain:feed (G:F) to increasing the SID Lys content of the diet fitted well with the curvilinear‐plateau model; whereas, for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) two‐slope linear broken‐line model was well fitted. The optimal SID Lys requirement for the pigs of this period was 1.10%. Experiment 2 was a dose–response study using SID Met+Cys to Lys ratios of 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70% and 64%. A total of 72 crossbred pigs with initial BW of 32.9 kg were randomly allotted to receive one of the six diets. Diets 1–5 were formulated to contain 1.0% SID Lys to be second limiting in Lys and diet 6 contained 1.11% SID Lys to be adequate in Lys. The average optimal SID SAA:Lys ratio for maximal ADG and G:F and minimal PUN was 65.2% using curvilinear‐plateau and linear broken‐line models.     

Effect of dietary concentration of metabolizable lysine on finishing cattle performance

A finishing trial and a metabolism trial were conducted to determine the effect of supplemental metabolizable Lys level on finishing calf performance and to estimate the metabolizable Lys requirement of finishing calves. The finishing trial included 60 individually fed crossbred beef steer calves (237 kg; SD = 20 kg) supplemented with either incremental amounts of rumen-protected Lys and Met, or Met alone. Addition of Lys and Met improved gains and efficiencies (quadratic; P < .02) during the first 56 d. There was no response to supplemental Met alone, suggesting that supplemental Lys rather than Met was responsible for the improvement in performance. Using nonlinear analyses to compare gain relative to supplemental Lys intake, maximum gain was determined to be 2.10 kg/d, or .27 kg/d above the zero Lys control, at a supplemental Lys intake of 2.56 g/d. Steers supplemented with 3 and 4 g of Lys had a weight advantage over the control steers of 16 kg at 56 d and 32 kg at the end of the 161-d trial. However, there were no statistical responses to Lys or Met during any periods after 56 d. During a separate metabolism trial, four steers fed the control finishing diet were slaughtered, and abomasal contents were collected for amino acid analyses. The predicted (Level 1 NRC, 1996) metabolizable protein flow to the abomasum for the control diet was 715 g/d, and the predicted Lys flow was 37.9 g/d. A supplemental Lys intake of 2.56 g/d would increase the Lys flow to 40.5 g/d. Feedlot diets low in ruminal escape protein may be deficient in metabolizable Lys, especially early in the feeding period. The metabolizable Lys requirement of steer calves gaining 2.10 kg/d is estimated to be 40.5 g/d.     

The effect of different dietary sodium levels on blood mineral concentrations and tibia mineralization in turkeys

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different dietary levels of sodium in diets with and without sodium chloride on mineral metabolism, including blood electrolyte levels and tibia mineralization parameters, in young turkeys (to six weeks of age). The influence of diets with a low (L), medium (M) and high (H) sodium content, at 0.34, 1.34 and 2.82 g/kg respectively, was compared. The content of chloride and potassium in turkey diets (1.7 - 5.9 and 11 g/kg, respectively) was above the recommended levels. The sodium-deficient diet L decreased the serum concentrations of sodium, chloride and phosphorus, and it increased the serum levels of calcium and magnesium in turkeys, compared with groups M and H. Relative to group L, different dietary sodium levels in groups M and H contributed to a similar increase in the body weights of birds (1.06 vs. 1.46 and 1.44 kg, p < 0.001) and in the absolute (4.60 vs. 6.83 and 6.62 g, p < 0.001) and relative tibia weight (0.42 vs. 0.46 and 0.46% body weight, p = 0.031). No significant differences were found between groups with respect to the content of ash, calcium and phosphorus in tibia dry matter. Supplemental sodium increased the bone density index (from 50.6 to 68.4 and 66.3 mg/mm in groups L, M and H, respectively, p < 0.001), the maximum bending moment (from 5.27 to 7.40 and 7.33 N/mm, p = 0.002) and the minimum breaking strength of tibia (from 0.136 to 0.191 and 0.189, p = 0.002). In conclusion, our study indicates that the applied dietary treatment with a moderate sodium level (1.34 g/kg) resulted in a rate of bird growth and tibia mineralization similar to those observed with the treatment with much higher Na content (2.82 g/kg).     

Effect of Dietary Lactose on the Productive Performance of Young Turkeys

Studies were conducted to assess the performance of turkeys fed diets containing lactose. Study 1 consisted of 96, mixed-sex turkey poults that were housed in battery cages and fed diets containing 0 (8% cornstarch), 0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 8% lactose from 0 to 6 wk. Study 2 used 360, mixed-sex turkey poults that were raised in floor pens and fed a commercial diet and diets containing 0 (4% starch), 0.5, 1, 2, or 4% lactose from 0 to 6 wk. Diets and water were offered ad libitum throughout both trials. The objectives were 1) to determine the effect of lactose on turkey performance and 2) to establish the optimum level for lactose inclusion in diets. In Study 1, feed intake, BW, fecal ammonia and nitrogen, and feed efficiency were determined. Diet composition, BW, feed intake, total body and carcass composition, cecal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid were measured in Study 2. Turkeys consuming the 4% lactose diet gained the most weight (P < 0.01) compared with other treatments in Study 1, and lactose improved feed efficiency. In Study 2, all lactose diets resulted in heavier BW (P < 0.05) compared with the commercial diet. Turkeys consuming diets with 0.5, 1, 2 or 4% lactose had less total body fat compared with turkeys consuming a commercial or 0% lactose diet (P < 0.05).     

Evaluation of amino-acid supplemented diets varying in protein levels for laying hens

The ideal amino acid concept is increasing by being applied to laying hens. However, understanding the responses of modern laying hens to decreasing levels of dietary protein balanced with crystalline amino acids has yet to be examined. In this study, 5 dietary treatments varying in CP content (18.0, 17.5, 17.0, 16.5, and 16.0%) were formulated at a fixed dietary energy concentration of 2,825 kcal of ME/kg of feed. The crystalline amino acids, including Met, Thr, Ile, Val, Trp, and Lys, were supplemented according to an assumed ideal AA profile, and all diets contained 0.831% ileal digestible Lys. Irrespective of the CP levels, the ratio of Lys and the profile of different essential amino acids in relation to Lys remained similar in all the diets. A total of 540 21-week-old Hy-Line W36 hens were used with 6 replicates per treatment group. This trial was conducted for a period of 14 wk, ranging from wk 21 to 34. Egg production, daily egg mass, feed intake, and FCR were not affected in the low-protein groups. Egg weight and N excretion declined, whereas egg yolk color increased in the low-protein groups. Decreasing dietary CP was found to have no effect on blood ammonia and plasma uric acid. The application of the assumed ideal AA profile can lead to reduced dietary protein level, from 18 to 16%, without affecting the production performance of laying hens during 21 to 34 wk of age. The ratios of standardized ileal digestible Met, Met + Cys, Thr, Trp, Arg, Ile, and Val to standardized ileal digestible Lys were 50, 91, 70, 21, 104, 80, and 88%, respectively, in the assumed ideal AA profile. Excretion of nitrogen was significantly decreased from hens fed the protein-reduced diet without impairing BW.     

Growth performance of 20- to 50-kilogram pigs fed low-crude-protein diets supplemented with histidine, cystine, glycine, glutamic acid, or arginine

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the growth performance of grower pigs fed low-CP, corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) AA-supplemented diets with that of pigs fed a positive control (PC) C-SBM diet with no supplemental Lys. Five experiments were conducted with Yorkshire crossbred pigs, blocked by BW (average initial and final BW were 21 and 41 kg, respectively) and assigned within block to treatment. Each treatment was replicated 4 to 6 times with 4 or 5 pigs per replicate pen. Each experiment lasted 28 d and plasma urea N was determined at the start and end of each experiment. All diets were formulated to contain 0.83% standardized ileal digestible Lys. All the experiments contained PC and negative control (NC) diets. The PC diet contained 18% CP and was supplemented with only DL-Met. The NC diet contained 13% CP and was supplemented with L-Lys, DL-Met, L-Thr, and L-Trp. The NC + Ile + Val diet was supplemented with 0.10% Val + 0.06% Ile. The NC + Ile + Val diet was supplemented with either His (Exp. 1), Cys (Exp. 2), Gly (Exp. 2, 3, and 4), Glu (Exp. 3), Arg (Exp. 4), or combinations of Gly + Arg (Exp. 4 and 5) or Gly + Glu (Exp. 5). Treatment differences were considered significant at P < 0.10. In 3 of the 4 experiments that had PC and NC diets, pigs fed the NC diet had decreased ADG and G:F compared with pigs fed the PC diet. The supplementation of Ile + Val to the NC diet restored ADG in 4 out of 5 experiments. However, G:F was less than in pigs fed the PC diet in 1 experiment and was intermediate between the NC and PC diets in 3 experiments. Pigs fed supplemental Ile + Val + His had decreased G:F compared with pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed supplemental Cys to achieve 50:50 Met:Cys had decreased G:F compared with pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed Ile + Val + 0.224% supplemental Gly had similar ADG, greater ADFI, and decreased G:F compared with pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed Ile + Val + 0.52% supplemental Gly had ADG and G:F similar to that of pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed supplemental Glu had decreased G:F compared with pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed Ile + Val + 0.48% supplemental Arg had decreased G:F compared with pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed the diet supplemented with Gly + Arg had ADG and G:F similar to pigs fed the PC. Pigs fed the low-CP diets had reduced plasma urea N compared with pigs fed PC. The results of these experiments indicate that supplementing Gly or Gly + Arg to a low-CP C-SBM diet with 0.34% Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, Ile, and Val restores growth performance to be similar to that of pigs fed a PC diet with no Lys supplementation.     

Apparent and standardized ileal digestibilities of amino acids for pigs fed corn- and soybean meal-based diets at varying crude protein levels

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of CP level in corn- and soybean meal-based diets on apparent (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA. Six pigs (initial BW, 47.1 ± 1.0 kg) fitted with T-cannula at the distal ileum were fed 6 diets for 6 periods in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The 6 diets consisted of a nitrogen-free diet and 5 corn- and soybean meal-based diets that contained CP of 68, 105, 141, 177, and 214 g/kg. Each period consisted of a 5-d adjustment period and 2 d of ileal digesta collection for 10 h on each of d 6 and 7. The ratio of corn:soybean meal was fixed at 3 to 2 by weight and cornstarch was added to dilute the CP concentration. Chromic oxide was added at 5 g/kg as an indigestible marker. The results showed basal endogenous loss ranged from 65 mg/kg of DMI for Met to 3,104 mg/kg of DMI for Pro. Proline and Gly (1,053 mg/kg of DMI) were the 2 most abundant AA in endogenous flow and together accounted for approximately 43% of the total endogenous AA flow. Of the basal ileal endogenous CP, total AA accounted for 82%. The AID were 80.9 to 84.7%, 85.1 to 87.4%, 72.9 to 79.5%, and 86.5 to 87.9% for Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp, respectively, with corresponding SID being 86.6 to 89.0%, 87.5 to 90.5%, 82.7 to 88.2%, and 90.2 to 94.6%, respectively, as dietary CP increased from 68 to 214 g/kg. There were linear increases in AID of N, Arg, Gly, Ile, Lys, Ser, Thr, Tyr, and Val (P ≤ 0.05) as CP increased and linear decreases in SID of N and all AA measured in this study except Lys, Met, and Pro (P ≤ 0.05). Both linear and quadratic effects were observed in AID for Pro (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the protein content of corn-soybean meal diets evaluated in the current study affected SID of most indispensable and dispensable AA, excluding Lys, Met, and Pro.     

Influence of dietary protein level, amino acid supplementation, and dietary energy levels on growing-finishing pig performance and carcass composition

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding reduced-CP, AA-supplemented diets at two ambient temperatures (Exp. 1) or three levels of dietary NE (Exp. 2) on pig performance and carcass composition. In Exp. 1, 240 mixed-sex pigs were used to test whether projected differences in heat increment associated with diet composition affect pig performance. There were 10 replications of each treatment with four pigs per pen. For the 28-d trial, average initial and final BW were 28.7 kg and 47.5 kg, respectively. Pigs were maintained in a thermoneutral (23 degrees C) or heat-stressed (33 degrees C) environment and fed a 16% CP diet, a 12% CP diet, or a 12% CP diet supplemented with crystalline Lys, Trp, and Thr (on an as-fed basis). Pigs gained at similar rates when fed the 16% CP diet or the 12% CP diet supplemented with Lys, Trp, and Thr (P > 0.10). Pigs fed the 12% CP, AA-supplemented diet had a gain:feed similar to pigs fed the 16% CP diet when housed in the 23 degrees C environment but had a lower gain:feed in the 33 degrees C environment (diet x temperature, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, 702 gilts were allotted to six treatments with nine replicates per treatment. Average initial and final BW were 25.3 and 109.7 kg, respectively. Gilts were fed two levels of CP (high CP with minimal crystalline AA supplementation or low CP with supplementation of Lys, Trp, Thr, and Met) and three levels of NE (high, medium, or low) in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. A four-phase feeding program was used, with diets containing apparent digestible Lys levels of 0.96, 0.75, 0.60, and 0.48% switched at a pig BW of 41.0, 58.8, and 82.3 kg, respectively. Pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diets had rates of growth and feed intake similar to pigs fed the high-CP diets. Dietary NE interacted with CP level for gain:feed (P < 0.06). A decrease in dietary NE from the highest NE level decreased gain:feed in pigs fed the high-CP diet; however, gain:feed declined in pigs fed the low-CP, AA-supplemented diet only when dietary NE was decreased to the lowest level. There was a slight reduction in longissimus area in pigs fed the low-CP diets (P < 0.08), but other estimates of carcass muscle did not differ (P > 0.10). These data suggest that pigs fed low-CP, AA-supplemented diets have performance and carcass characteristics similar to pigs fed higher levels of CP and that alterations in dietary NE do not have a discernible effect on pig performance or carcass composition.