Growth performance and carcass characteristics of male broilers fed diets varying in digestible threonine to lysine ratio from 21 to 49 days of age

Two experiments were conducted to ascertain digestible Thr to Lys ratio of male broilers from 21 to 35 d of age (experiment 1) and 35 to 49 d of age (experiment 2) based on growth performance and processing yields. In both experiments, 2 diets (dilution and summit; 3,108 kcal ME/kg and 18.2% CP in experiment 1; 3,163 kcal ME/kg and 17.2% CP in experiment 2) consisting of corn, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, and peanut meal formulated to be surfeit in limiting amino acids with exception of digestible Lys and Thr were mixed at various proportions to create 8 titration dose-response diets. Digestible Lys was formulated to contain 95% of the requirements from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age. In each experiment, gradient treatment structure was arranged in a randomized complete block design. Calculated digestible Thr to Lys ratios ranged from 0.512 to 0.806 in approximately increments of 0.040 (1,600 Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers; experiment 1) and 0.552 to 0.793 in approximately increments of 0.035 (3,000 Ross × Ross 708 broilers; experiment 2). In experiment 1, digestible Thr to Lys ratio for male Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers was estimated at 0.68 and 0.67 for BW gain and feed conversion from 21 to 35 d of age. In experiment 2, digestible Thr to Lys ratio of Ross × Ross 708 was determined at 0.68 and 0.63 for feed conversion ratio with quadratic and linear broken-line models, respectively. Meat weights and yields were not affected by the dietary treatments in either experiment. These data indicate that a digestible Thr to Lys ratio of 0.68 can optimize growth performance of broilers from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age.     

Dietary Apparent Metabolizable Energy and Amino Acid Density Effects on Growth and Carcass Traits of Heavy Broilers

Two experiments (EXP) were conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary AME and amino acid (AA) density (total basis) on broiler chickens from 42 to 56 d of age. In EXP 1, diets were formulated to contain low AME (3,140 kcal/kg) and moderate AME (3,240 kcal/kg) in combination with moderate AA (16.2% CP, 0.88% Lys, and 0.75% TSAA) and high AA (18.0% CP, 0.98% Lys, and 0.83% TSAA) and fed to male broilers. Dietary treatments in EXP 2 were diets formulated to contain moderate AME (3,220 kcal/kg) and high AME (3,310 kcal/kg) combined with moderate and high AA concentrations used in EXP 1 and fed to male and female broilers. In general, dietary AME and AA did not interact to influence growth and meat yield responses. Broilers provided the low AME diet in EXP 1 consumed more feed and had poorer feed conversion but had higher total breast meat yield than birds fed the moderate AME diet. In EXP 2, broilers fed the high AME diet from 42 to 56 d had increased BW gain, decreased feed consumption, and improved feed conversion. Feeding the high AA diets in both EXP decreased feed consumption, improved feed conversion, and increased total breast meat yield. Nutritionists establishing nutritional programs for heavy broilers late in development from 2.5 to 3.6 kg may need to consider increasing AA density to optimize breast meat yield. Increasing the AME content of the diet improves feed conversion but not breast meat yield.     

Broiler responses to feeds formulated with or without minimum crude protein restrictions and using supplementall-valine andl-isoleucine

Comparisons of corn-soy-feeding programs formulated using different protein constraints were done in the present study. A total of 1,800 one-day-old, slow-feathering Cobb × Cobb 500 male broiler chicks were placed in 72 floor pens of 25 birds each with 9 birds/m². Feeding programs (PRG) were composed of prestarter (PST,1–7 d), starter (ST, 8–21 d), grower (GR, 22–35 d), and finisher (FN, 36–43 d) diets formulated as: PRG 1 = CP restricted to a minimum (22.4, 21.1, 19.8, and 18.4% for PST, ST, GR, and FN, respectively) with amino acid-to-Lys ratios only set for TSAA (0.72) and Thr (0.65); PRG 2 = CP not restricted, whereas ratios of amino acids to Lys were also extended to Val (0.77) and Ile (0.67); PRG 3 and PRG 4 were the same as PRG 2, but withl-Val added in PRG 3 andl-Val andl-Ile in PRG 4. Feeds were formulated to have digestible Lys of 1.324, 1.217, 1.095, and 1.006% for PST, ST, GR, and FN, respectively, or 5% higher. A completely randomized design was used with a 4 × 2 factorial (4 PRG and 2 digestible Lys) design with 9 replications per treatment. Overall, no interactions between PRG and digestible Lys were observed, with 1 exception observed for BW gain and FCR from 36 to 43 d. Birds fed PRG 2 showed improvements in BW gain and FCR when fed the diet 5% higher in digestible Lys. Cumulative BW gain and FCR results at 35 and 43 d, as well as in each individual feeding phase, showed broilers from PRG 2 having the best results, but without mean separation significant differences when compared with PRG 3 and 4. Feeding a dietary program with a 5% increase in digestible Lys resulted in improved cumulative FCR only when cumulatively measured from placement to 43 d. Abdominal fat, as a percentage of the eviscerated carcass at 43 d, was lowest for birds fed PRG 2 diets. Formulation of diets having traditional recommendations of digestible Lys with Val- and Ile-to-Lys ratios of 0.77 and 0.67, without restricting CP, led to the best results overall in performance and fat pad deposition; therefore, if the goal is to reduce CP, similar results should be achieved by addingl-Ile with further reductions in protein ifl-Val is also added. Data obtained in this study support the applicability of supplementation withl-Val andl-Ile when ideal AA ratios are followed.     

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,Meat Yield,and Economic Responses of Broilers Fed Diets Varying in Metabolizable Energy from Thirty to Fifty-Nine Days of Age

Two studies examined responses of broilers to diets varying in AME from 30 to 59 d of age. A 59-d termination allows for evaluation of energy needs applicable to “big bird” programs, because research on nutritional needs for such programs is warranted. Two experiments were conducted: experiment (exp.) 1 having low temperatures whereas exp. 2 used moderate temperatures. The treatments in exp. 1 and 2 were AME concentrations ranging from 3,175 to 3,310 kcal/kg with CP, TSAA, and Lys being identical across all treatments. In exp. 2, an additional treatment consisted of a diet containing 3,310 kcal of AME/kg with CP, TSAA, and Lys being increased by 4% of those specifications used in the other treatments so as to minimize differences in energy:CP ratio.In both experiments, feed consumption and conversion decreased linearly as dietary AME increased, but breast meat yield was reduced with the high AME diet and only increasing amino acids in exp. 2 ameliorated the negative effect. Live production costs and gross feeding margin (bird return over feed costs) were optimized in exp. 1 with 3,220 kcal of AME/kg of diet, but 3,310 kcal of AME/kg of diet and increased amino acids were needed in exp. 2 for improved monetary returns. In both experiments, broilers had similar caloric consumption indicating that these broilers can compensate to varying dietary AME concentrations within practical limits. These results demonstrated that the response to dietary AME was more pronounced under moderate ambient temperatures.     

Effect of feeding different levels of energy and protein on performance of Aseel breed of chicken during juvenile phase

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding different metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) levels on performance of Aseel chicken during 0 to 8?weeks of age (Juvenile phase). At 1?day old, 432 chicks were randomly distributed into nine groups. Each group had 48 chicks distributed into eight replicates with six birds in each. Maize-soybean meal-based diets with three ME levels (2,400, 2,600 and 2,800?kcal/kg) and three CP levels (16%, 18% and 20%) were fed to birds in a 3?×?3 factorial design. Different ME levels had significant effect on body weight gain (BWG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed diet with 2,400?kcal/kg ME had significantly lower BWG (P?相似文献   

Nutritional requirement of digestible threonine for white egg layers of 60 to 76 weeks of age

The objective of this study was to determine the requirement for digestible Thr for optimum performance of white egg layers in the period from 60 to 76 wk of age. DeKalb White Leghorn layers with an average weight of 1,345 kg were distributed 5 increasing levels of digestible Thr (0.523, 0.546, 0.569, 0.592, and 0.615%) in a completely randomized design, with 6 replicates and 6 birds per experimental unit for a total of 180 birds. The dietary treatments contained 0.759% of digestible Lys, which was obtained using the prediction equation of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine, and each treatment consisted of a digestible Thr-to-Lys ratio of 69, 72, 75, 78, or 81%. The digestible Thr levels had a linear effect on feed intake and a quadratic effect on egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs. In conclusion, a digestible Thr-to-Lys ratio of 75.14% is recommended for White Leghorn of 60 to 76 wk of age, corresponding to the level of 0.570% in the diet and a daily intake of digestible Thr of 622 mg/bird.     

Marginality and Needs of Dietary Valine for Broilers Fed Certain All-Vegetable Diets

Valine is likely the fourth limiting amino acid in most diets based on corn and soybean meal (C/SBM). However, the exact needs for Val are not well known, and information regarding it is sparse. A series of studies was conducted to validate the limitation of Val in all-vegetable diets fed to broilers, and subsequently to quantify an adequate ratio to Lys in high-yield late-developing broilers (Ross × Ross 708) from 21 to 42 d. A preliminary study was designed to evaluate the supplementation of different amino acids likely to be fourth limiting on a C/SBM-based diet, where Lys, TSAA, and Thr were supplemented but no other critical amino acids were given minimums in the formulation. Results obtained for BW gain, abdominal fat weight, and abdominal fat percentage showed that birds were more responsive (P < 0.05) to l-Val supplementation. A follow-up study using a corn-peanut meal (C/PM)-based diet formulated to be deficient in Val validated (P < 0.05) a Val deficiency based on poor growth performance and resulted in an immediate return to good performance when this amino acid was supplemented. Furthermore, the C/PM diet was compared with a nutritionally similar C/SBM diet, and no difference was observed in the performance of broilers fed these diets, thus validating the ability of the C/PM-based diet to support adequate growth of these broilers. This C/PM-based diet was used to feed gradual concentrations of Val, from levels that would be considered deficient (0.59% digestible) up to adequate (0.84% digestible Val). Results indicate that a ratio of Val to Lys of 78, or a minimum dietary value of 0.74% digestible Val (0.82% total Val), should be adequate for this high-yield broiler grown from 21 to 42 d of age.     

Threonine and tryptophan ratios fed to nursery pigs*

The optimal ratio of tryptophan (Trp):lysine (Lys) relative to the ratio of threonine (Thr):Lys was studied in 288 crossbred (Cambrough 15 x Canabrid) nursery pigs from 7.1 to 15.6 kg BW. Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 3 factorial with three calculated ratios of true digestible Thr:Lys (0.55, 0.60, or 0.65) in combination with three Trp:Lys ratios (0.145, 0.170, or 0.195). Treatments were replicated with eight pens of four pigs each. The experiment lasted 28 day with Phase II (222.6 g CP and 11.9 g true digestible Lys/kg diet, initially 24 day of age and 7.1 kg BW) and Phase III (196.2 g CP and 10.1 kg true digestible Lys/kg diet, initially 38 day of age and 9.8 kg BW) diets each fed for 14 day. Threonine by Trp interactions were observed for average daily gain during each period, and for daily feed intake during Phase III and overall. Generally, Trp addition linearly increased gain and feed intake at a Thr:Lys ratio of 0.60 and 0.65 but not at a Thr:Lys ratio of 0.55. Gain:feed was increased linearly with increasing levels of Trp during both periods. There were no main effects of Thr in either time period or overall. Overall, optimal performance was obtained in pigs fed the true digestible Trp:Lys ratio of 0.195 at Thr:Lys ratios 0.60 or 0.65. These results indicate that Trp:Lys ratios above 0.195 may be needed to maximize performance in diets containing wheat and barley.     

Effect of nutrient density on production performance, egg quality and humoral immune response of brown laying (Dahlem Red) hens in the tropics

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of metabolizable energy (ME) with graded incremental levels of crude protein (CP) and essential amino acids (lysine and methionine) on production performance, egg quality and humoral immune response of Dahlem Red laying hens. Four experimental diets based on maize–soybean meal-deoiled rice bran were prepared. Diet 1 was fed as a control diet containing 2,600 kcal ME/kg, 15% CP, 0.75% Lys and 0.36% Met, and in the other three diets (D2, D3 and D4), concentrations of the above nutrients were increased by 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5%, respectively. The levels of Ca (3.5%) and available P (0.32) were constant in all the diets. Each diet was offered ad libitum from 28 to 40 weeks of age to eight replicates containing six birds in each replicate. The egg production, egg weight and egg mass (in grams of egg per hen per day) were not affected by increasing the nutrient density up to 7.5% (2,795 kcal ME/kg diet) compared to the control group (2,600 ME/kg diet). However, feed consumption and feed efficiency (in grams of egg per gram of feed) were influenced by the variation in the nutrient density of diets. As the nutrient density increased by 5% (2,730 ME/kg diet), birds consumed significantly (P < 0.001) less feed. The birds in the 7.5% higher density group produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher egg mass per unit feed consumption compared to the control diet. Increasing nutrient density up to 7.5% had no effect on relative weight of albumen, yolk or shell. The Haugh unit, yolk colour and shell thickness were also not affected due to variation in the nutrient density. The humoral immune response measured at 34 and 40 weeks was progressively improved by increasing the nutrient density up to 5%. Increasing the nutrient density beyond 5% in the diet had no further influence on the humoral immune response. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that Dahlem Red laying hens required 2,795 kcal/kg ME, 16% CP, 0.8% lysine and 0.4% methionine for eliciting optimum performance and immune response during 28 to 40 weeks of age.     

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.     

低蛋白质补充合成氨基酸日粮对9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响

本研究旨在探讨蛋能比保持一定的情况下,低蛋白质补充前3种限制性氨基酸日粮对9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响。试验选用160羽体重为(573.1±11.0)g的9周龄健康宁都三黄母鸡,随机分为4个处理,每个处理4重复,每个重复10羽鸡。处理Ⅰ组(对照组)为玉米-豆粕型日粮,按照我国黄羽肉鸡饲养标准(2004)进行配制,其中代谢能为13.3 MJ/kg、蛋白质含量为16.5%(蛋白质/代谢能=12.3 g/MJ)。处理Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组(试验组)日粮蛋能比与处理Ⅰ组一致,代谢能分别为12.6、11.8、11.0 MJ/kg,蛋白质含量分别为15.5%、14.5%、13.5%。4组日粮均补充了蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸以满足三黄鸡对其需要。结果表明:(1)日粮蛋白质水平由16.5%降至14.5%,9～16周龄宁都三黄鸡日采食量、日增重和料重比无显著影响(P>0.05);当蛋白质降幅达3个百分点时,尽管补充了蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸,但宁都三黄鸡的生长性能受到显著影响(P<0.05);(2)日粮蛋白质水平降低3个百分点,宁都三黄鸡全净膛率显著升高(P<0.05),但对屠宰率、半净膛率、胸肌率及腿肌率影响不显著(P>0.05);(3)日粮蛋白质水平降低2个百分点及以上同时补充蛋氨酸、赖氨酸和苏氨酸时,宁都三黄鸡的腹脂率显著降低(P<0.05)。综合生长性能和胴体品质指标,在补充前3种限制性氨基酸的情况下,宁都三黄鸡日粮蛋白质降低的幅度不应超过2个百分点。     

Chemical composition,energy and amino acid digestibility in double-low rapeseed meal fed to growing pigs

Background:The nutritional value of rapeseed meal may be variable due to the variation of its chemical composition.And a precise understanding of the nutritional value of an ingredient is beneficial for the accurate diet formulation and reduction of feed costs.This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition,digestible energy(DE) and metabolizable energy(ME) content,and apparent ileal digestibility(AID) and standardized ileal digestibility(SID) of amino acids(AA) for growing pigs.Thirteen solvent-extracted double-low rapeseed meal(DLRSM) samples were obtained from the main double-low rapeseed producing areas in China.Methods:The DE and ME contents of the 13 DLRSM samples were measured in growing pigs(six pigs per DLRSM sample,average initial body weight(BW) = 48.3 kg).The AID and SID of AA of 10 DLRSM samples were determined in 12 crossbred barrows(average initial BW = 35.3 kg) by using two 6x6 Latin square designs.Each Latin square comprised one N-free diet and 5 DLRSM test diets.Results:The chemical composition of DLRSM varied among samples,and the coefficient of variation was greater than 10%for ether extract(EE),neutral detergent fiber(NDF),acid detergent fiber(ADF),calcium(Ca),and total glucosinolates.The AA content of DLRSM varied among samples especially for lysine(Lys) and methionine(Met).On a dry matter(DM) basis,the apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD) of gross energy(GE),the DE and ME and the ME:DE ratio of DLRSM averaged 62.39%,2862 kcal/kg and 2723 kcal/kg,and 94.95%,respectively.The mean value of SID of Lys was 70.52% which varied from 66.54-76.54%.The SID of crude protein(CP),Met,and threonine(Thr) averaged 72.81%,82.41%,and 69.76%,respectively.Conclusions:There was great variability in chemical composition especially in the concentration of EE,NDF and ADF,but no significant differences in energy content of the DLRSM samples were observed.In addition,the AID and SID of all AA were relatively similar among DLRSM samples except for that of Lys.     

Use of Digestible Amino Acids and the Concept of Ideal Protein in Feed Formulation for Broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate diet formulation based on digestible amino acids (DAA), the formulation of low protein diets supplemented with synthetic amino acids, and L-Thr supplementation to increase the Thr:Lys ratio from 67:100 to 70:100. Two experiments were carried out with Hubbard male broilers from 3 to 6 wk of age. In experiment 1, corn-soybean meal diets containing 20% CP were used. In experiment 2, 20% CP diets were formulated with corn, soybean meal, wheat bran, feather meal, and meat meal. In both experiments, body weight gain and economic evaluations were better for broilers fed diets formulated on DAA. Carcass yields and carcass composition were not significantly affected by formulation procedures. In experiment 2, birds fed diets based on DAA had improved feed efficiency compared with those fed total amino acids (TAA). In experiment 1, a reduction of CP from 20 to 18.2% did not affect broiler performance. It did, however, result in fatter carcasses, lower percentages of breast meat, and lower economic evaluation. In both experiments, performance and economic evaluation were not affected by the Thr:Lys ratio. In experiment 1, however, abdominal fat and carcass fatness were reduced, and, in both experiments, carcass protein level was higher with a Thr:Lys ratio of 70:100 than with 67:100 ratio (P < 0.05).     

Balanced nutrient density for broiler chickens using a range of digestible lysine-to-metabolizable energy ratios and nutrient density:Growth performance,nutrient utilisation and apparent metabolizable energy

Currently, specific nutrient concentration, metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible amino acids are used as feed formulation criteria. A balanced nutrient density (BND) concept based on 2 criteria of nutrient density and balanced amino acids-to-ME ratio may offer more flexibility in optimisation of profit in formulation of diets compared with current formulation based on set values per unit of feed mass. A total of 672 one-d-old off-sex male Ross 308 broiler chickens were used across two 42-d performance trials in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with each diet replicated 8 times (14 birds per replicate). The experimental factors were 2 nutrient density levels (low [LD] and high [HD]) and 3 digestible lysine-to-ME ratios (DLYS:ME; low, medium, and high). Low density diets had ME of 2,876 and 3,023 kcal/kg for starter and finisher, respectively, while values for HD diets were 3,169 and 3,315 kcal/kg with proportionally higher non-nitrogenated nutrients. Separate digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) assays were conducted at d 21 and 42. Digestibility assays at d 7 were conducted on birds used for performance trials. Regardless of the diet density, birds fed low DLYS:ME had a lower (P < 0.01) feed intake (d 0 to 42) than medium and high DLYS:ME. Without interaction, birds fed low and medium DLYS:ME had a similar body weight gain being the heaviest while birds low DLYS:ME were the lightest. By an interaction (P < 0.05), the highest overall FCR value was observed for birds fed LD × low DLYS:ME and improved linearly when DLYS:ME increased to the highest level reaching a limit for birds fed HD × medium DLYS:ME. Calorie conversion linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increments in DLYS:ME. Jejunal and ileal starch and protein digestibility were affected on d 21 and 42 but not on d 7 of age. Given the independence of response on BW and feed consumption, the use of BND as a flexible system in diet formulations has the potential to enable more accurate formulation for optimisation of growth performance of broiler chickens.     

Estimation of the optimum standardized ileal digestible total sulfur amino acid to lysine ratio in late finishing gilts fed low protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids

A total of 90 gilts were used to investigate the effects of various standard ileal digestible (SID) total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) to lysine (Lys) ratios on the performance and carcass characteristics of late finishing gilts receiving low crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids (CAA). Graded levels of crystalline methionine (Met) (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 or 1.1 g/kg) were added to the basal diet to produce diets providing SID TSAA to Lys ratios of 0.48, 0.53, 0.58, 0.63 or 0.68. At the termination of the experiment, 30 gilts (one pig per pen) with an average body weight (BW) of 120 kg were killed to evaluate carcass traits. Increasing the SID TSAA to Lys ratio increased average daily gain (ADG) (linear and quadratic effect, P < 0.05), improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (linear and quadratic effect, P < 0.05) and decreased serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentration (linear and quadratic effect, P < 0.05) of finishing gilts. No effects were obtained for carcass traits. The optimum SID TSAA to Lys ratios to maximize ADG as well as to minimize FCR and SUN levels were 0.57, 0.58 and 0.53 using a linear‐break point model and 0.64, 0.62 and 0.61 using a quadratic model.     

Effect of inert fillers with changing energy-protein ratio on growth performance and energy digestibility in broilers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using sand or diatomaceous earth (DIAE) as an inert filler while changing the energy-to-protein ratio in broilers, and therefore to evaluate if doing either will confound the results in energy enzyme efficacy studies by reducing the difference observed between the standard and low energy control diets. The dietary treatments consisted of one control treatment (3,050 ME kcal/kg, 220 CP g/kg) and a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with 2 energy-to-protein levels (2,850 ME kcal/kg, 205 CP g/kg or 2,850 ME kcal/kg, 220 CP g/kg) and 2 inert fillers (sand or DIAE), each with 9 replicates. Each replicate pen included 5 straight-run broilers fed for a period of 21 d with weekly pen BW and feed intake measured. Ileal contents were collected on d 21 for ileal digestible energy (IDE), with 0.2% titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. According to the main effect for inert filler, BW was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in treatments with reduced energy on d 21. Compared with the control group, no differences were observed among the reduced energy treatments for FCR and productivity index. Both IDE and ileal energy digestibility coefficient (IEDC) were decreased in the treatments formulated with reduced energy. Among reduced energy treatments, diets containing sand had significantly higher IDE and IEDC than the ones with DIAE. This study confirms that reduced dietary energy negatively influences broiler performance. Adding sand as the inert filler had an independently beneficial effect, and therefore DIAE may be a more appropriate source of inert filler to replace fat in a diet with a disrupted energy-to-protein ratio, which is the typical methodology in energy enzyme efficacy studies.     

Digestible and metabolizable energy concentrations and amino acid digestibility of dried yeast and soybean meal for growing pigs

Energy values and amino acid (AA) digestibility of dried yeast (DY) and soybean meal (SBM) were determined in 2 experiments with growing pigs. Experiment 1 was conducted to determine the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in DY and SBM. Thirty barrows with a mean initial body weight (BW) of 20.6 kg (SD = 1.04) were assigned to 5 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with period and BW as blocking factors. A reference diet was prepared with corn, canola meal, and soybean oil as energy-contributing ingredients. Four additional diets were prepared by adding 5% and 10% DY or SBM at the expense of energy-contributing ingredients in the reference diet. The ratio of corn, canola meal, and soybean oil was kept consistent across the experimental diets. Each experimental period consisted of 5-d adaptation and 5-d quantitative collection of feces and urine. Test ingredient-associated DE or ME intake (kcal/d) was regressed against test ingredient intake [kg dry matter (DM)/d] to estimate the DE or ME in test ingredients as the slope of linear regression model. The DE in DY was estimated at 3,933 kcal/kg DM, which was not different from the estimated DE in SBM at 4,020 kcal/kg DM. Similarly, there was no difference between DY and SBM in the estimated ME (3,431 and 3,756 kcal/kg DM, respectively). Experiment 2 was conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in DY and SBM. Twenty-one barrows with a mean initial BW of 20.0 kg (SD = 1.31) were surgically fitted with T-cannulas at the distal ileum and assigned to 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with BW as a blocking factor. Two semi-purified diets containing DY or SBM as the sole nitrogen source and one nitrogen-free diet (NFD) were prepared. The NFD was used to estimate the basal ileal endogenous losses of CP and AA. Pigs were fed the 3 diets for 5 d as adaptation, followed by 2 d of feeding with ileal digesta collection. The SID of AA, except Gly and Pro, in DY was less (P < 0.05) than in SBM. The SID of indispensable AA in DY ranged from 64.1% for Thr to 85.2% for Arg, and those in SBM ranged from 83.9% for Thr to 91.8% for Arg. In conclusion, energy values of DY are not different from those of SBM, whereas AA in DY is less digestible than in SBM. The estimated DE and ME as well as the SID of AA in DY and SBM can be used in diet formulation for growing pigs using these ingredients.     

Digestible lysine requirement for growing Japanese quails

A total of 1,000 one-day-old Japanese quails were distributed at random, with 5 digestible lysine levels, in 10 replicates and with 20 birds per experimental unit. The basal diet was formulated based on corn and soybean, with 200.6 g CP/kg, 2900.00 kcal/kg ME, and 8.8 g digestible lysine/kg. This basal diet was supplemented with L-lysine HCl (784 g/kg), replacing glutamic acid, and corresponding to digestible lysine levels of 8.8 g/kg, 9.8 g/kg, 10.8 g/kg, 11.8 g/kg, and 12.8 g/kg. The increase in the levels of digestible lysine produced a greater weight gain in birds with up to 12.2 and 12.1 g of lysine/kg at 40 d of age. Carcass weight increased as levels were increased to up to 11.85 g of lysine/kg, and, similarly, egg production per bird housed increased up to 12.03 g of lysine/kg. A linear increase took place in the growing phase for feathering, fat, and crude protein deposits in the carcass, feed intake, and lysine intake. Egg production and egg mass per bird per d increased linearly in the laying phase with the weight gain of birds decreasing linearly until 100 d of age, and, similarly, the feed conversion per egg mass linearly improved in function of the lysine levels. A level of 11.85 g of digestible lysine/kg in the diet, which corresponded to a lysine intake of 120.5 mg/bird/d, provided better carcass weight at the end of the growing phase and better performance at the beginning of the laying phase for the Japanese quails.     

A simple estimation of ideal profile of essential amino acids and metabolizable energy for growing Japanese quail

An experiment was conducted to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and amino acid requirements of growing Japanese quail based on ideal protein concept using artificial neural network and desirability function (D‐ANN). Seven‐day‐old quail chicks were assigned to nine experimental diets based on central composite design (CCD) containing five levels of AME (2809–3091 kcal/kg) and CP (19–24.8% of diet). The ratio of lysine (Lys) to CP was set at 0.053 among all treatments, and remaining essential amino acids (EAA) were adjusted to Lys. The experimental data of CCD were fitted to D‐ANN model to compute the optimal values for independent variables. The optimal values of inputs including AME, CP, digestible Lys (dLys), methionine (dMet), total sulphur amino acids (dTSAA), threonine (dThr), tryptophan (dTrp), isoleucine (dIle), valine (dVal) and arginine (dArg) for maximizing gain and minimizing feed conversion ratio were estimated at 2865 kcal/kg, 25, 1.32, 0.55, 0.88, 0.84, 0.20, 0.75, 1.04 and 1.45% of diet, respectively, with D (desirability function) = 0.94. The corresponding optimal amounts of amino acids based on total amino acids were 1.42, 0.59, 0.95, 0.90, 0.22, 0.81, 1.12 and 1.56% of diet respectively. The ideal pattern of essential amino acids to Lys was as follows: dMet: dLys = 0.42, dTSAA: dLys = 0.67, dThr: dLys = 0.64, dTrp: dLys = 0.15, dIle: dLys = 0.57, dVal: dLys = 0.79 and dArg: dLys = 1.09. The results of this study showed that amino acid requirements of modern quails might be higher than those reported by NRC.