Effects of low-crude protein diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on fattening performance and nitrogen excretion of Holstein steers

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of low-crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on growth performance, nitrogen excretion, and carcass traits in Holstein steers. Steers consumed the following diets: (1) 17.2% CP on a dry-matter basis during the early period (from 7 to 10 months of age) and 14.5% CP during the late period (from 10 to 18 months of age; CON, n = 4, initial body weight [BW] 238 kg), and (2) 14.4% CP during the early period and 11.4% CP during the late period (AA, n = 4, initial BW 243 kg). The AA diet contains rumen-protected lysine and methionine. Except for CP intake, feed intake and body weight gain were not affected by dietary CP content. Total nitrogen excretion per metabolic BW tended to be lower (p < .10) in the early period and significantly lower (p < .05) in the late period with decreasing the feed CP content. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were lower in AA than CON. Carcass traits and total free amino acid contents of the longissimus thoracis muscle were not affected by dietary CP content. Adding rumen-protected lysine and methionine to a low-CP diet would reduce nitrogen excretion in fattening Holstein steers without affecting productivity.     

Effect of l‐glutamic acid supplementation on performance and nitrogen balance of broilers fed low protein diets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein reduction and supplementation of l ‐glutamic acid in male broiler diets. A total of 648 chicks of the Cobb 500 strain were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications with eighteen birds per experimental unit. The study comprised pre‐starter (1–7 days), starter (8–21 days), growth (22–35 days) and final (36–45 days) phases. The first treatment consisted of a control diet formulated according to the requirements of essential amino acids for each rearing phase. The second and third treatments had crude protein (CP) reduced by 1.8 and 3.6 percentage points (pp) in relation to the control diet respectively. In the fourth treatment, l ‐glutamic acid was added to provide the same glutamate level as the control diet, and in the last two treatments, the broilers were supplemented with 1 and 2 pp of glutamate above that of the control diet respectively. The reduction in CP decreased the performance of broilers and the supplementation of l ‐glutamic acid did not influence performance when supplied in the diets with excess of glutamate. The lowest excreted nitrogen values were observed in the control diet, and treatments 2 and 3, respectively, in comparison with treatments with the use of l ‐glutamic acid (5 and 6). Retention efficiency of nitrogen was better in the control diet and in the treatment with a reduction of 1.8 pp of CP. It was verified that the serum uric acid level decreased with the CP reduction. A reduction in CP levels of up to 21.3%, 18.8%, 18.32% and 17.57% is recommended in phases from 1 to 7, 8 to 21, 22 to 35 and at 36 to 42 days, respectively, with a level of glutamate at 5.32%, 4.73%, 4.57%, 4.38%, also in these phases.     

不同蛋白源日粮对肉鸡生长性能、酶活及胫骨特征的影响

文章旨在评估肉鸡在不同生长阶段饲喂不同蛋白源日粮对其生长性能、小肠酶活和胫骨特征的影响。试验将平均初始体重为（43.55±0.36）g的400只商品肉仔鸡随机分为5组,每组4个重复,每个重复20只。试验分为1～14?d和15～28?d两个试验阶段,T1组肉鸡在1～28?d饲喂鱼粉型日粮,T2组肉鸡在1～14?d饲喂豆粕型日粮,15～28?d饲喂鱼粉型日粮,T3组肉鸡在1～14?d饲喂菜粕型日粮,15～28?d饲喂鱼粉型日粮,T4组肉鸡在1～14?d饲喂鱼粉型日粮,15～28?d饲喂豆粕型日粮,T5组肉鸡在1～14?d饲喂鱼粉型日粮,15～28?d饲喂菜粕型日粮。结果：T3和T4组肉鸡1～14?d平均日增重和采食量显著高于T1和T2组,而T1和T2组肉鸡1～14?d料重比最低（P＜0.05）。T1和T5组肉鸡小肠胰蛋白酶活性显著高于其他组（P＜0.05）,T3和T4组肉鸡小肠脂肪酶活性显著高于其他组（P＜0.05）,T1组肉鸡小肠糜蛋白酶活性最低（P＜0.05）。T2组胫骨灰分含量较其他组分别显著提高了9.65%、13.64%、15.74%和17.92%（P＜0.05）。结论：在本研究条件下,肉鸡在生长初期（1～14?d）饲喂菜粕型日粮可以显著改善采食量和日增重。 [关键词]蛋白源饲料|肉鸡|生长性能|酶活|胫骨特征     

Influence of dietary enzyme complex on the performance of broilers fed on diets with and without antibiotic supplementation

1. The aim of the experiment was to test the possible interactions of an enzyme complex and a food antibiotic on the growth and metabolism, carcase yield, whole body composition and nutrient deposition in broilers. The basal diet contained 400 g/kg barley. The four treatments were as follows: O—without supplements (control), E—enzyme complex Roxazyme® G, 200 mg/kg, A—antibiotic avoparcin, 10 mg/kg, EA—Roxazyme G, 200 mg/kg plus avoparcin, 10 mg/kg.

2. Roxazyme G positively influenced weight gain, food conversion efficiency, energy metabolisability, fat and nitrogen utilisation and the dry matter content of droppings. Fat and energy deposition in the whole body were also increased, whereas protein deposition and carcase yield were not influenced.

3. Avoparcin increased energy metabolisability and fat utilisation, but had no influence on nitrogen utilisation. No significant improvements from avoparcin were seen in growth or in nutrient deposition in the body. The fibre degradability (NDF and ADF fraction) was significantly depressed by antibiotic supplementation.

4. The inclusion of both supplements to the diet did not have a fully additive effect on growth, energy metabolisability, or fat and nitrogen utilisation. The interaction between enzyme and antibiotic for food conversion efficiency during the first experimental period (7 to 21 d) was nearly significant (P= 0.053). Except for fibre degradability (P ≤ 0.01), no other significant interactions between enzyme and antibiotic were found.     

不同比例小麦日粮添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡生产牲能的影响

小麦是一种品质较好的能量饲料原料,小麦作为饲料的优点是其蛋白质和赖氨酸含量比玉米高30%～50%,与家畜生长发育密切相关的烟酸含量是玉米的2倍多,Ca、P、蛋氨酸和胱氨酸的含量也比玉米高.但代谢能是玉米的90%左右(NRC,1994),叶黄素、生物素的含量比较低.     

谷氨酰胺对肉鸡生长性能、脂肪沉积和脂质代谢的影响

试验旨在研究饲粮中添加不同水平的谷氨酰胺(Gln)对肉鸡生长性能和脂质代谢的影响。采用单因子完全随机设计,选用1日龄AA肉仔公鸡240只,随机均分为4组。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组日粮的配制是在基础饲粮中分别添加0.4%、0.8%和1.2%谷氨酰胺,试验期42 d。结果表明,与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.8%谷氨酰胺可显著提高肉鸡1～42日龄平均日采食量、平均日增重和试验末体重(P0.05)。0.8%谷氨酰胺试验组肉鸡42日龄腹脂率显著低于对照组(P0.05),胸肌脂肪含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。与对照组相比,添加0.8%谷氨酰胺显著降低了肉鸡42日龄血清中甘油三酯和胆固醇含量(P0.05),0.4%和0.8%谷氨酰胺显著提高血清胰岛素含量(P0.05),各试验组均显著降低了血清脂联素含量(P0.05)。肉鸡腹脂率与瘦素和胰岛素含量显著负相关(P0.05),与脂联素含量显著正相关(P0.05);胸肌脂肪含量与脂联素含量显著负相关(P0.05);腿肌脂肪含量与瘦素和胰岛素含量显著正相关(P0.05);瘦素含量与胰岛素显著正相关(P0.05)。由此可见,肉鸡饲粮中添加谷氨酰胺可以提高肉鸡的生长性能,并通过影响肉鸡体内胰岛素和脂联素的分泌调控脂质代谢和脂肪沉积,0.8%谷氨酰胺的添加量效果为最佳。     

Effect of diet form and enzyme supplementation on growth, efficiency and energy utilisation of wheat-based diets for broilers

1. The effect of diet form (mash, cold-pelleted, steam-conditioned/pelleted, wet mash, whole wheat with balancer pellet, restricted pellet) and enzyme inclusion (Avizyme 1300, absent, present) was studied in 2 trials using individually caged, male broilers from 14 to 42 d. Bird performance, viscosity of ileal contents and diet metabolisability (AME) were measured. 2. The performance of mash-fed birds was significantly poorer than for the other treatments in relation to dry matter intake, liveweight gain and gain:food. This was not due to reduced diet AME content. 3. There was no significant effect of heat treatment on any of the variables measured, although viscosity of ileal contents was increased by 30% as compared to the cold-pelleted diet. 4. Gain:food was improved with wet-mash feeding in comparison to the dry mash treatment but it was concluded that this was not due to any intrinsic improvement in diet quality, but rather to voluntary food restriction on introduction of the wet food. 5. Whole wheat feeding improved gain:food and diet AME content by 3% as compared to the complete diets and caused approximately a 50% increase in gizzard weight as compared with the pelleted diets. 6. Food enzyme inclusion did not improve performance although a significant improvement in diet AME content was observed with enzyme inclusion in trial 1.     

小麦型日粮中添加限制性酶对肉鸡生长性能和胃肠道发育的影响

文章旨在研究小麦型日粮中添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡生长性能和胃肠道发育的影响。试验选择健康、平均体重一致的1日龄肉仔鸡800只,随机分为5组,每组5个重复,每个重复32只。共开展两个试验,试验1共5种日粮:对照组(小麦型1～28 d),处理1(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶21～28 d),处理2(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶14～28 d),处理3(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶7～28 d),处理4(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶1～28 d);试验2同样5种日粮:对照组(小麦型1～36 d),处理1(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶27～36 d),处理2(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶18～36 d),处理3(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶9～36 d),处理4(小麦型日粮+0.3 g/kg木聚糖酶1～36 d)。结果显示:1～28 d肉鸡饲喂添加木聚糖日粮较未添加组和21～28 d显著提高了肉鸡的末重(P <0.05);与对照组相比,各处理组在15～21 d,22～28 d和1～28 d料重比均表现为显著降低(P <0.05)。1～36 d肉鸡日粮添加木聚糖酶较对照组(无酶)或27～36 d组显著提高了肉鸡末重(P <0.05);试验期间(1～36 d)添加木聚糖酶较对照组和27～36 d添加木聚糖酶组显著降低了料重比(P <0.05)。1～36 d肉鸡日粮添加木聚糖酶较对照组显著降低了回肠内容物黏度(P <0.05)。结论 :在小麦型日粮中添加木聚糖酶可以有效促进肉鸡生长后期的生长,而整个试验期不需要一直添加木聚糖酶。     

Effects of dietary fat type and non-starch-polysaccharide-hydrolysing enzyme addition to rye-based diets on muscle protein turnover in broilers

1. Muscle protein turnover was measured in broilers fed on rye-based diets containing either beef tallow (T) or soybean oil (S) at an inclusion rate of 100 g/kg. Each of these diet types was tested either in the absence (S[-], T[-]) or presence (S[+], T[+]) of a xylanase-containing enzyme preparation. Protein turnover was measured in gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and pectoralis major muscle (PM). 2. Fractional rate of protein synthesis (FSR) was measured by the large dose technique using [15N]-labelled phenylalanine whereas fractional protein growth rate (FGR) was estimated by regressing tissue protein content over time. Fractional breakdown rates (FBR) were calculated by the difference between FSR and FGR. 3. In PM, FSR (%/d) was 22.1, 23.4, 21.5 and 24.4 in groups S[-], S[+], T[-] and T[+], respectively, and FBR (%/d) was 8.3, 9.8, 4.5 and 10.8 with the xylanase effect being significant. The FGR of 17.0%/d calculated for the broilers fed on the T[-] diet tended to be higher than for the other groups (13.6 to 13.8%/d). No significant effects were detected for these parameters in the GM. 4. The absolute amounts of protein which were synthesised daily and accreted in both muscles were significantly higher with xylanase supplementation in both fat type diets but at a significantly higher level when soybean oil was the dietary fat type. 5. The observed effects on protein turnover have to be seen in the context of an overall adverse effect of dietary soluble pentosans from rye in combination with tallow on physico-chemical chyme conditions, digestion and absorption of energy and nutrients and tissue-specific metabolic changes.     

Nitrogen metabolism and growth performance of gilts fed standard corn-soybean meal diets or low-crude protein,amino acid-supplemented diets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the CP concentration below which N retention and growth performance are reduced when low-protein, amino acid-supplemented, corn-soybean meal diets are fed. In a N balance trial (Exp. 1), 12 gilts (initial weight 41 kg) were fitted with urinary catheters and fed six different diets during three 7-d periods in an incomplete block design. The diets were: 1) 18% CP; 2) 14% CP + AA, 3) 16% CP; 4) 12% CP + AA; 5) 14% CP; and 6) 10% CP + AA. Amino acids (lysine, threonine, tryptophan, and methionine) were supplemented such that the concentrations in the low-protein diets were equal to those in their standard (4% CP higher) counterparts. Nitrogen retention (g/d) decreased (P < 0.01) as CP decreased, in both standard (27.10, 24.53, and 20.99) and low-protein (21.51, 19.18, and 15.83) diets, but was lower (P < 0.01) in low-protein diets. There were no differences among treatments (P > 0.05) in biological value (68.2% standard vs 71.0% low-protein). In a growth performance trial (Exp. 2), 36 gilts (initial weight 19.5 kg) were penned individually and fed one of six diets for 35 d in a randomized complete block design. Dietary treatments were a 16% CP standard diet and low-protein diets formulated to contain 15, 14, 13, 12, and 11% CP supplemented with crystalline lysine, tryptophan, threonine, and methionine to equal the total concentrations in the standard diet. Protein concentration affected (P < or = 0.05) ADG, ADFI, feed efficiency, fat-free lean gain, longissimus muscle area, plasma urea, and plasma concentrations of most essential AA. For most of these traits, the major difference was poor performance of pigs fed the 11% CP diet. Thus, in Exp. 1, at AA concentrations from deficient to excess, low-protein, amino acid-supplemented diets failed to produce the same N retention as the equivalent corn-soybean meal diets. However in Exp. 2, the same performance was obtained with 16, 15, 14, 13, and 12% CP. Based on these data, we suggest that N balance is more sensitive than growth to amino acid adequacy andthat other AA (e.g., isoleucine and valine) may limit growth performance when the protein concentration is reduced by more than four percentage units.     

添加不同油脂对肉鸡生长性能的影响

本文旨在研究饲喂不同油脂对肉鸡生长性能及油脂酸价对采食量和体重的影响。试验选用1日龄罗斯308商品肉仔鸡2100只,随机分为7个处理组,每个组10个重复。处理1组添加豆油,处理2组添加鸡鸭油,处理3组添加精炼混合油A(酸价1 mgKOH/g),处理4～6组分别添加不同酸价的劣质混合油A、B和C(酸价分别为8、35 mgKOH/g和53 mgKOH/g),处理7组添加劣质脂肪酸。结果表明,日粮添加劣质脂肪酸组可显著增加8～21、36～42日龄及1～42日龄肉鸡日采食量和料肉比(P<0.05)。劣质混合油C组8～21日龄肉鸡的采食量显著低于其他处理组;而与豆油组比,劣质混合油B和C组8～21日龄肉鸡日增重和21日龄体重显著降低。混合油的酸价与肉鸡采食量及42日龄体重呈负相关,随着酸价的升高,1～42日龄肉鸡平均采食量和42日龄体重逐渐降低,其中劣质混合油C组采食量显著降低。     

Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth,nitrogen utilisation and serum cholesterol in broilers

1. The effect of dietary probiotic supplementation on the growth, nitrogen utilisation and serum cholesterol content of broiler chickens was studied in 2 trials.

2. In experiment 1, the birds receiving the 0, 75, 100, 125 mg probiotic/kg diets had weight gains of 1204.0, 1272.0, 1268.3 and 1210.5 g, respectively at the end of 8 weeks of feeding. The group of birds fed on the 75 mg probiotic supplemented diet retained significantly (P<0.01) more nitrogen than the control birds. Serum cholesterol content was lower in the probiotic‐supplemented birds (93.3 mg/100 ml) compared to the control birds (132.2 mg/100 ml).

3. In the second experiment the probiotic plus antibiotic‐supplemented group of birds had the maximum weight gain (1148.5 g) followed by antibiotic (1141.3 g), probiotic‐supplemented (1128.4 g) and control birds (1045.6 g) after 6 weeks. Nitrogen retention was greatest in the antibiotic—(48.5%) followed by the probiotic—(46.5%), probiotic plus antibiotic‐supplemented groups (46.3%) compared to 40.2% in control birds.

4. The apparent metabolisable energy was greatest in birds receiving the probiotic plus antibiotic‐supplemented diet (12.37 MJ/kg) followed by antibiotic—(12.00 MJ/kg), probiotic‐supplemented birds (11.92 MJ/kg) than in control birds (11.62 MJ/kg). Serum cholesterol was significantly (P<0.01) lower in probiotic‐supplemented birds (86.1 mg/dl) compared to 118.4 mg/dl in control birds.     

Effect of different dietary protein levels and amino acids supplementation patterns on growth performance,carcass characteristics and nitrogen excretion in growing-finishing pigs

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effects of different dietary protein levels and amino acids supplementation patterns in low protein diets on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and nitrogen excretion in growing-finishing pigs.Forty-two barrows(25.00 ± 0.39 kg) were randomly assigned to 7 diets. Diet 1: the high crude protein diet with balanced for 10 essential amino acids(EAAs). Diet 2: the medium crude protein diet with 2%(approx) decreased protein level of Diet 1 and balanced 10 EAAs. Diet 3: the low crude protein diet with 4% decreased protein level of Diet 1 and balanced 10 EAAs. The protein levels of Diet 4, 5, 6 and 7 were the same as that of Diet 3. Diet 4 was only balanced for lysine(Lys), methionine(Met), threonine(Thr) and tryptophan(Trp); Diet 5 and 6 were further supplemented with extra isoleucine(Ile) or valine(Val), respectively; Diet 7 was further supplemented with extra Ile + Val.Results: Over the 112 days trial, the reduction of dietary protein by 2% or 4% with balanced10 EAAs significantly decreased nitrogen excretion(P 0.05), but had no effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics(P 0.05). In low protein diet, Val supplementation significantly increased body weight gain at 25–50 kg phase(P 0.05), while Ile supplementation at 75–100 kg phase and 100–125 kg phase significantly reduced the ratio of feed to gain(P 0.05). No effect of different dietary protein levels and amino acids supplementation patterns in low protein diets on carcass characteristics was observed(P 0.05). The total N excretion of pigs supplemented with only Lys, Met, Thr and Trp was numerically higher than that of pigs fed with extra Ile, or Val, or Ile + Val diets.Conclusion: In low protein diet, Val is more required than Ile in the early growing phage(25–50 kg), while Ile becomes more required in the late growing and finishing phage(75–125 kg).     

饲粮中小麦比例与复合酶添加量对肉鸭生产性能的影响

小麦具有营养价值高、制粒品质好、易于储存和价格偏低的优点,但因含有抗营养因子可溶性非淀粉多糖(SNSP) ,限制了其在配合饲料中的用量(Choct,1 990 ;Bedford ,1 995、1 999;Hew -Lap -Im ,1 999;Krzysztof,1 999)。复合酶制剂在畜禽饲料中的应用,为解决小麦等日粮中的抗营养因子提供了有效途径,但对鸭的研究仅局限在单因素的对照试验。本试验选用含纤维素酶、β-葡聚糖酶、木聚糖酶和果胶酶的复合酶与日粮中含小麦比例两因素,采用2×3试验设计,探讨小麦与复合酶的互作对肉鸭生产性能的影响。1　材料与方法1 1　试验日粮　本试验根据…     

Effect of wheat content, fat source and enzyme supplementation on diet metabolisability and broiler performance.

1. A 3x3x2 factorial experiment studied the interactions of fat source (tallow, soya, tallow:soya [2:1] blend), wheat level (700, 350, 0 g/kg) and enzyme inclusion (Avizyme 1300, absent, present) in diets for broilers fed ad libitum in individual cages from 7 to 35d. Bird performance, fat digestibility, viscosity of ileal contents and diet metabolisability (AME) were measured. 2. There were no significant effects of fat source on bird performance. However, there was a significant effect on fat digestibility, which was highest for soya and lowest for tallow. Diet AME content was also significantly affected by fat source and reflected differences in fat digestibility. 3. Dry matter (DM) intake, liveweight gain (LWG) and gain:food were all reduced at 700 g wheat/kg. Viscosity of ileal contents increased with increasing wheat inclusion. 4. There were no significant effects of enzyme on DM intake or LWG but gain:food was improved by 2%. Diet AME content was increased with enzyme addition, the effect being greatest (9%) with tallow at 700 g wheat/kg. 5. Viscosity of ileal contents was reduced and fat digestibility increased with enzyme addition and there were significant wheat enzyme interactions attributable to no differences with zero wheat but marked responses to enzyme at 700 g wheat/kg. 6. The results confirm important interactions between wheat content and fat composition in relation to fat digestibility, AME content and food efficiency.     

微生态添加量对商品肉鸡生长性能的影响

选用36000只1日龄罗斯308商品肉鸡,随机分成3个处理组,每个处理3个重复,每个重复4000只鸡。各处理组从1日龄开始至14日龄每天分别饮用绿源生0ml/只(T1)、0.35ml/只(T2)和0.65ml/只(T3)。研究饮水中添加不同剂量绿源生对肉鸡生长性能的影响。结果表明,绿源生有使肉鸡全期日增重线性上升的趋势(P=0.06)。随着绿源生添加剂量的增加,试验第2周(P<0.05)和全期(P<0.01)增重耗料比呈二次曲线上升。饮水中添加绿源生时间少于7d,可能对生产性能没有显著影响,增加饮水中绿源生的添加量能显著改善肉鸡的饲料转化率。     

不同种类有机酸对肉鸡生长性能、养分利用率和肠道微生态的影响研究

本试验研究不同种类有机酸对肉鸡生长性能、养分利用率和肠道微生态的影响。将240只1日龄艾维茵肉鸡随机分为4个处理（对照组、1．5％柠檬酸组、1．5％延胡索酸组、0．2％复合酸化剂组），每个处理6个重复，每个重复10只鸡。在试验第17～20d和38～41d分别进行代谢试验在试验第21d和42d进行屠宰试验。结果表明：肉鸡日粮中添加1．s％柠檬酸、1．5％延胡索酸和0．2％复合酸化荆不同程度改善肉鸡生产性能；提高前期阶段饲粮能量和养分的利用；对42日龄盲肠内容物的pH值有一定影响，同时，柠檬酸和复合酸化剂能显著促进肉鸡42日龄直肠乳酸杆菌的增殖；综合分析所有参数，0．2％复合酸化剂的作用效果最优。     

Effect of rice polishing and phytase supplementation in diets on productive behavior of broilers

The addition of rice polishing (RP) and phytase enzyme to poultry diets was tested on 200 1-day-old broilers weighing 42 g. Birds were assigned to a completely random design with a 2?×?2 factorial arrangement with four treatments and five repetitions of ten birds each. The factors evaluated were RP level (0 and 15 %) and phytase (0 and 150 g/ton). The trial was divided in two phases of 21 days each (42 days total). In phase 1, no treatment effects were observed (P?>?0.10) on poultry productive behavior. In the second phase (21 to 42 days) and on the total trial (1 to 42 days), there were no effects of the treatments on weight gain or feed intake (P?>?0.10). Feed conversion was affected by RP (P?<?0.01) but not by phytase addition (P?>?0.10). In conclusion, phytase did not affect broiler production with or without RP. Addition of 15 % RP in poultry diets represents an alternative to reduce feed costs.     

Effects of sources of protein and enzyme supplementation on protein digestibility and chyme characteristics in broilers

1. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein source and enzyme supplementation on protein digestibility and chyme characteristics in broilers. 2. One hundred and twenty growing (13 d old) and 60 finishing (34 d old) Arbor Acre strain commercial male broilers were selected and placed into individual metabolic cages. 3. The experiment was a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement with 5 different sources of protein: casein, fish meal, soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC), maize gluten meal (MGM) and two levels of protease (bromelain), 0 and 65 CDU/kg diets. 4. The diets were iso-nitrogenous and semi-purified, with Cr2O3 as an indicator for determination of ileal digestibility and chyme characteristics. 5. Apparent ileal protein digestibility (AIPD) in both growing and finishing chickens was highest on the casein diet, followed by fish meal, SBM, SPC and MGM. 6. Enzyme inclusion did not improve protein digestibility, but significantly decreased the digesta pH value in the gizzard and increased pH in the ileum in the 3-week-old broilers. 7. The digesta pH values in the gizzard and duodenum were significantly lower in the SBM and fish meal groups compared with the other protein groups. The molecular weight distribution pattern of the soluble protein in the chyme of the gastrointestinal (GI) segments showed a similar trend, regardless of the enzyme inclusion or the stage of growth. 8. The molecular weight profile of soluble protein changed dynamically in the casein fed broilers from the gizzard to ileum and the low molecular weight proteins, < 7 kDa, reached maximum levels at the ileum. The molecular weight profile of the soluble protein in the SBM and SPC changed between the jejunum and the ileum and in the intermediate molecular soluble protein weight (7 to 10 kDa) was significantly decreased. This indicated that the hydrolysis process began from the middle to the posterior end of the small intestine. 9. Similar profiles were also shown with fish meal protein. The pattern of distribution, however, did not show any prominent change in the GI segments of the MGM group. 10. The pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin protease activity in the gizzard and duodenum were highest in the casein group and lowest in the MGM group as compared with the other protein groups. 11. The rate change in the patterns of molecular weight distribution in soluble protein and the digestive enzyme activity provide indications of the partial digestibility of different protein sources. The exogenous enzyme, bromelain, did not show any beneficial effect on protein digestion.