Effects of energy level and protein source on nitrogen kinetics in steers fed wheat straw-based diets.

A 4 x 4 Latin square metabolism trial with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to determine N kinetics in steers. Steers were fed either untreated (UNT-WS) or alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHP-WS) based diets supplemented with soybean meal (SBM) or blood meal (BM). Single doses of (15NH4)2SO4 were infused into ruminal pools to determine N kinetics. Ruminal NH3N concentrations (main effects) were 3.81, 1.65, 3.18, and 2.28 mg/dL in steers when fed diets that contained UNT-WS, AHP-WS, SBM, and BM, respectively. Ruminal N pool size was greater (P < .05) for UNT-WS than for AHP-WS diets and also was greater (P < .10) for SBM than for BM diets. Nitrogen flux rate into the rumen was not affected (P > .10) by diet. However, production rate of N from the ruminal pool was greater (P < .05) for UNT-WS than for AHP-WS diets and greater (P < .10) for SBM than for BM diets. Nitrogen recycled into the rumen was 33% greater (P < .05) for AHP-WS than for UNT-WS diets and 26% greater (P < .05) for BM than for SBM diets. Nitrogen recycling (percentage of N intake) was 33, 56, 36, and 49% for UNT-WS, AHP-WS, SBM, and BM diets, respectively. The blood urea N (BUN) concentrations were 10.23, 4.58, 7.15, and 7.65 mg/dL for UNT-WS, AHP-WS, SBM, and BM diets, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nutrient digestibility and feedlot performance of lambs fed diets varying protein and energy contents

Thirty-six Thalli male growing lambs were used in a completely randomized design with 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of varying levels of energy and protein on nutrient intake, digestibility, weight gain, and gain to feed ratio. Four experimental diets, i.e., low energy–low protein (LE-LP), low energy–high protein (LE-HP), high energy–low protein (HE-LP), and high energy–high protein (HE-HP) were formulated. The low- and high-energy diets contained 2.3 and 2.7 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) with 12% and 14% of crude protein. The lambs were fed ad libitum. Dietary energy and protein levels and their interactions influenced the nutrient intake. Maximum dry matter intake was noted in animals fed LE-HP diet followed by LE-LP, HE-HP, and HE-LP diets. Digestibility of DM and N increased (P < 0.01) and that of neutral detergent fiber decreased (P < 0.01) linearly with increasing levels of dietary energy and protein. Digestibility of N was only affected by protein level and interaction between energy and protein levels. Average daily gain was higher (P < 0.01) in lambs fed HE-HP diet followed by LE-HP, LE-LP, and HE-LP diets. Dietary energy and protein levels and their interaction had significant effect (P < 0.01) on gain to feed ratio.     

The effect of incremental replacement of wheat with soya hulls in diets for Jersey cows on lactational performance, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour

Eight Jersey cows were used in two balanced 4 × 4 Latin Squares to investigate the effects of replacement of dietary starch with non-forage fibre on productivity, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour. Total-mixed rations consisted of maize silage, grass silage and a soyabean meal-based concentrate mixture, each at 250 g/kg DM, with the remaining 250 g consisting of cracked wheat/soya hulls (SH) in the ratios of 250 : 0, 167 : 83; 83 : 167 and 0 : 250 g, respectively, for treatments SH0, SH83, SH167 and SH250. Starch concentrations were 302, 248, 193 and 140 g/kg DM, and NDF concentrations were 316, 355, 394 and 434 g/kg DM, for treatments SH0, SH83, SH167 and SH250, respectively.Total eating time increased (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion increased, but total rumination time was unaffected. Digestibility of DM, organic matter and starch declined (p < 0.01) as SH inclusion increased, whilst digestibility of NDF and ADF increased (p < 0.01). Dry-matter intake tended to decline with increasing SH, whilst bodyweight, milk yield and fat and lactose concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Milk protein concentration decreased (p < 0.01) as SH level increased. Feed conversion efficiency improved (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion rose, but it was not possible to determine whether this was due to the increased fibre levels alone, or the favourable effect on rumen fermentation of decreasing starch levels.     

Relationship between feeding behavior and performance of feedlot steers fed barley-based diets

The relationship between feeding behavior and performance of 274 feedlot cattle was evaluated using Charolais cross steers from 2 consecutive years averaging 293 ± 41 kg for yr 1 (n = 115) and 349 ± 41 for yr 2 (n = 159). Steers were blocked by BW and assigned to 3 (yr 1) or 4 (yr 2) feedlot pens equipped with a radio frequency identification system (GrowSafe Systems). Each pen contained 5 feeding stalls that allowed individual animal access to a feed tub suspended on load cells. The system recorded animal identification, duration, and frequency of feedings as well as the amount of feed consumed during each visit. Daily variation in DMI (DVI), calculated as the absolute difference in DMI from one day to the next, as well as eating rate were determined for each steer. Barley-based diets were delivered to meet steer ad libitum intake over the 213- and 181-d feeding periods for yr 1 and 2 of the study, respectively. The backgrounding periods included the first 85 and 56 d of yr 1 and 2, respectively, in which steers were fed a 14 to 30% concentrate diet, whereas the finishing periods included the last 116 and 101 d of feeding in yr 1 and 2, respectively, with the diet consisting of 77.9% concentrate. Steers were weighed individually every 14 d. To relate feeding behavior to performance, steers were grouped by ADG and G:F and categorized as high, average, or low (based on 1 SD greater than and less than the mean). In the backgrounding and finishing periods of both years of the study, steers classified as having high ADG exhibited greater (P < 0.001) DVI than steers classified as having average or low ADG. Total daily DMI was also greater (P < 0.001) for steers in the high ADG group than those in the low ADG group. Overall, those steers with the greatest G:F also tended (P = 0.15) to have greater DVI than average or low G:F steers. Compared with average or low G:F steers, DMI by high G:F steers in both years of the study was less during backgrounding, finishing, and overall (P = 0.02). Bunk visits and bunk attendance duration were less frequent and shorter (P ≤ 0.01) overall for high compared with low G:F steers. In this study, steers with more variable eating patterns exhibited greater ADG and tended to have greater G:F, a finding that is contrary to industry perception.     

Duodenal bacterial and nonbacterial protein supply in steers fed forage and grain diets

Four beef steers (avg wt 300 kg) fitted with duodenal re-entrant cannulae were used to study the effect of dietary concentrate to forage ratio on bacterial and nonbacterial N flow in the duodenum. According to a change-over design, the steers were designated to receive an all forage (83% alfalfa hay and 17% wheat straw) and an 80% sorghum grain diet. Lignin (ADL) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) ratio techniques were compared with automated total collection (ATC) of digesta for quantitating duodenal protein flow and efficiency of bacterial N yield in the rumen. Estimates of bacterial protein synthesis and ruminal escape of feed protein based on Cr2O3 and lignin tended to be higher by 8 to 16% than those obtained by ATC. Efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein yield estimated by these two markers tended to be greater than that based on ATC (16 vs 12 g of bacterial protein/100 g ruminal true digestion of dry matter corrected for bacterial cell synthesis). Efficiency values did not differ between diets. Crude protein flow into the duodenum was about 33% greater (P less than .01) for the grain than the forage diet, although protein intake was about 10% less on the grain diet. Duodenal bacterial protein, rather than feed protein escaping ruminal degradation, accounted for most of this difference. Average duodenal flow of N, expressed as g/Mcal metabolizable energy (ME) intake, was 11.9 for the forage diet and 10.3 for the grain diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Performance and meat quality of beef steers fed corn-based or bread by-product-based diets

A feeding trial was conducted with beef breed steers (120) to determine the effects of substituting bread by-product (BBy) for whole shelled corn on performance and meat quality. Chemical analysis of each diet ingredient and in vitro rates of digestion from gas production of BBy and corn were determined to provide accurate information for diet evaluations using the 1996 Beef NRC Model Level 2. Bread by-product contained 16% CP (75.6% degradable) and 75.1% non-structural carbohydrates (70% as starch, which had a digestion rate of 16%/h). The steers were given one estrogenic implant (Synovex-S) and started on the experiment at 15 mo of age and an average weight of 364 kg. The cattle were commercially slaughtered in three groups (40 steers at 101, 60 steers at 126, and 20 steers at 160 d on feed) weighing an average of 553 kg when they reached a small degree of marbling. Carcasses were electrically stimulated to prevent cold shortening of muscles. Warner-Bratzler shear force values were measured in rib steaks at 5, 14, and 21 d after slaughter (n = 76). Rib steaks from 30 steers per treatment were evaluated for palatability traits. Use of BBy at 55% of the diet (substituted for 75% of the corn) significantly improved feed efficiency by 8.1%. There were no statistically significant differences between the two diets for effects on ADG, carcass characteristics, shear force values, or sensory panel ratings of tenderness, juiciness, flavor, or overall acceptability. After adjusting intestinal starch digestibility in Level 2 to 63% for the whole corn and 90% for the BBy, predicted ADG matched that observed. Apparent NE(g) values for BBy and corn were 1.57 and 1.41 Mcal/kg, respectively.     

Site of protein digestion in steers fed sorghum grain diets. I. Effect of level of feed intake

Two digestion trials were conducted with seven crossbred, abomasally cannulated yearling steers (400 kg) to study the effect of level of feed intake on the site and extent of feed and microbial protein digestion. Steers, in a crossover design experiment, were fed an 81.5% steam-processed flaked (SPF) sorghum grain diet at either 95% (four steers) or 75% (three steers) of their ad libitum intakes. At the end of the first trial, steers were switched to the opposite treatment. Dysprosium (31 to 32 micrograms/g) was used as an external marker. Feed, abomasal contents and fecal grab samples were taken at 12-h intervals advancing by 2 h each day over a 6-d total fecal collection period. Organic matter (OM) intakes were 6,102 and 4,570 g for the two treatments. Higher level of intake increased (P less than .05) quantities of OM, crude protein and trichloroacetic acid precipitable protein entering the small intestine, digested post-ruminally and digested in the total tract. The higher level of intake decreased (P less than .05) the percentage of bacterial protein (BP) present in the abomasum and percent post-ruminal BP digestion; however, the amounts of BP and non-BP entering the small intestine and digested post-ruminally were greater (P less than .05) in steers fed 95% ad libitum. Most of the feed protein was degraded in the rumen with both treatments. Predicted true feed protein digestibilities were 91.1 and 91.7% for 95 and 75% of ad libitum intakes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of level of protein and supplemental choline on reproductive performance of gilts fed sorghum diets

A total of 214 gilts was used (two trials) to determine the effect of protein level and choline supplementation during gestation on weight gain, conception rate and subsequent reproductive performance. The gilts were fed either a 12 or 16% crude protein sorghum-soybean meal diet containing either a high supplemental choline level or no supplemental choline in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Conception rate was not influenced by either protein or choline level. Choline supplementation increased pig weight at 42 d of age (P less than .14) and litter weight at 21 (P less than .12) and 42 d (P less than .1). Gilts fed the 16% protein diet produced larger pigs at 42 d (P less than .13) and heavier litters at birth, (P less than .1) 21 d (P less than .14) and 42 d (P less than .05) than gilts fed the 12% protein diet. A larger choline effect on litter size and pig and litter weight was observed for gilts fed the 12% protein diet than for those fed the 16% gestation diet, although the protein-choline interaction was not significant for any traits measured. The incidence of spraddle leg condition was low and was not affected by level of dietary protein or supplemental choline.     

Effect of field pea replacement level on intake and digestion in beef steers fed by-product-based medium-concentrate diets

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers (703.4 +/- 41 kg initial BW) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the effects of field pea inclusion level on intake and site of digestion in beef steers fed medium-concentrate diets. Steers were offered feed ad libitum at 0700 and 1900 daily and were allowed free access to water. Diets consisted of 45% grass hay and 55% by-products based concentrate mixture and were formulated to contain a minimum of 12% CP (DM basis). Treatments consisted of (DM basis) 1) control, no pea; 2) 15% pea; 3) 30% pea; and 4) 45% pea in the total diet, with pea replacing wheat middlings, soybean hulls, and barley malt sprouts in the concentrate mixture. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adjustment period followed by a 5-d collection period. Grass hay was incubated in situ, beginning on d 10, for 0, 2, 5, 9, 14, 24, 36, 72, and 98 h; and field pea and soybean hulls for 0, 2, 5, 9, 14, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. Total DMI (15.0, 13.5, 14.1, 13.5 +/- 0.65 kg/d) and OM intake (13.4, 12.0, 12.6, 12.0 +/- 0.58 kg/d) decreased linearly (P = 0.10) with field pea inclusion. Apparent ruminal (17.5, 12.0, 0.6, 6.5 +/- 4.31%) and true ruminal CP digestibility (53.5, 48.7, 37.8, 46.2 +/- 3.83) decreased linearly (P < 0.10) with increasing field pea. Neutral detergent fiber intake (8.9, 7.9, 7.8, 7.0 +/- 0.3 kg/d) and fecal NDF output (3.1, 2.9, 2.6, 2.3 +/- 0.2 k/d) decreased linearly (P < 0.03) with increasing field pea. No effects were observed for microbial efficiency or total-tract digestibility of OM, CP, NDF, and ADF (P > or = 0.16). In situ DM and NDF disappearance rates of grass hay and soybean hulls decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing field pea. Field pea in situ DM disappearance rate responded quadratically (P < 0.01; 5.9, 8.4, 5.5, and 4.9 +/- 0.52%/h, for 0, 15, 30, and 45% field pea level, respectively). Rate of in situ CP disappearance of grass hay decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing field pea level. Field pea is a suitable ingredient for beef cattle consuming medium-concentrate diets, and the inclusion of up to 45% pea in by-products-based medium-concentrate growing diets decreased DMI, increased dietary UIP, and did not alter OM, NDF, or ADF digestibility.     

Intake,digestibility, rumen protein synthesis,and growth performance of Malawi Zebu steers fed diets containing rangeland-based protein sources

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The study evaluated effects of feeding Malawi Zebu steers with diets containing baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed meal and white thorn tree (Vachellia...     

Plasma clearance of L- and D-lactate in steers fed alfalfa hay or high concentrate diets

Experiments were conducted with 40 steers to evaluate the effects of diet (alfalfa hay vs high concentrate) on the rates of elimination of D- and L-lactate from plasma. Plasma L- and D-lactate clearance rates were determined before (Period I) and 114 d after (Period II) an abrupt switch from the alfalfa hay to the high concentrate diet. One group of steers received the hay diet throughout the experiment. Diet or period did not alter the rate of disappearance of L-lactate from plasma; the half-life was 13.5 to 15.5 min. D-lactate disappearance from plasma followed an exponential decay curve with at least two components; however, diet or period did not alter the calculated rates of disappearance. The half-life of the first component was 9 to 28 min and the second component was 207 min. Characteristics describing D- or L-lactate metabolism were not highly correlated with lactate utilization for fatty acid synthesis. These data demonstrate that, in steers adapted to a high concentrate diet consuming 18.2 Mcal ME X head-1 X d-1, clearance of D(-)- or L(+)-lactate is not different from that in steers fed alfalfa hay consuming 23.1 Mcal ME X head-1 X d-1.     

Effects of programmed growth rate and days fed on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate a feeding regimen in which a programmed amount of feed was offered daily to control growth rate of steers. In Exp. 1, steers (n = 107, 309 +/- 3 kg) were used to determine effects of offering ad libitum access to feed (AL) vs a programmed intake feeding regimen (PI) and the number of days steers were fed (168 vs 203) on performance and carcass characteristics. Steers in the programmed intake feeding regimen were fed to achieve a predicted gain of 1.13 kg/d for the first 78 kg of gain, 1.36 kg/d for the next 124 kg of gain, and were given ad libitum access to feed for the final 54 or 103 kg of gain before slaughter (for steers fed for 168 d or 203 d, respectively). Feed efficiency was greater (P < 0.02) for steers in the PI than for those in the AL feeding regimen (0.193 vs 0.183 kg gain/kg feed, respectively). From d 169 to 203, steers in the PI feeding regimen had greater (P < 0.06) ADG (1.60 vs 1.38 kg/d) and similar (P = 0.38) feed efficiency than steers in the AL regimen. In Exp. 2, steers (n = 96; 308 +/- 3 kg BW) were offered feed ad libitum throughout the experiment (AL) or were programmed to gain at a high (PI-H) or low (PI-L) growth rate. For the first 78 kg of gain, intake was restricted to achieve predicted gains of 1.13 kg/d (PI-L) or 1.25 kg/d (PI-H). For the next 124 kg of gain, intake was restricted to achieve predicted gains of 1.36 kg/d (PI-L) or 1.47 kg/d (PI-H). Feed was offered ad libitum for the final 58 kg of gain. Overall ADG was similar (P > 0.37) among feeding regimens despite lower DMI for the steers in the PI-L and PI-H feeding regimens than for those in the AL regimen. Feeding regimen did not affect (P < 0.22) carcass characteristics. Programmed intake feeding regimens sustained growth rate and feed efficiency for an extended period of time without detrimental effects on carcass characteristics.     

Induction of Escherichia coli mastitis in cows fed selenium-deficient or selenium-supplemented diets

Ten Holstein heifers were fed a selenium-deficient (SeD) diet (0.04 mg of Se/kg on a total ration dry-matter basis) 3 months before calving and throughout their first lactation. A selenium-supplemented (SeS) diet (2 mg of Se/head/d) was fed to a group of 10 heifers. In about the 14th week of lactation, the cows were challenge-exposed to Escherichia coli by administering 15 to 40 colony-forming units (CFU) into 1 mammary gland. Selenium concentration (microgram/ml) in blood around the time of challenge exposure was 0.033 +/- 0.002 (mean +/- SEM) in SeD and 0.132 +/- 0.006 in SeS cows. Infections were established in all challenge-exposed quarters. The frequency of quarter atrophy and agalactia, and reduction in whole-udder milk yield in the first 4 days after challenge exposure, were greater (P less than 0.05) in the SeD cows. Log10 peak bacterial concentrations in milk were higher (P less than 0.05) in SeD (7.63 +/- 0.34 CFU/ml) than in SeS cows (5.57 +/- 0.66 CFU/ml). Mean log bacterial concentration was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) from 12 to 20 hours after challenge exposure in SeD than in SeS cows. Duration of infection was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) in SeD (162.0 +/- 12.0) than in SeS cows (114.4 +/- 18.0 hours). Milk somatic cell counts increased significantly more slowly (P less than 0.05) in SeD than in SeS cows from 8 to 16 hours after challenge exposure. Ratios of milk somatic cells to bacteria in milk were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in SeD than in SeS cows at 12 and 16 hours after challenge exposure.     

Effects of supplemental fat on growth performance and quality of beef from steers fed corn finishing diets

To measure the effects of dietary fat on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, and on beef appearance, moisture binding, shelf life, palatability, and fatty acid content, 126 crossbred beef steers (321.1 +/- 0.57 kg of BW) were allotted to a randomized complete block (3) design with a 3 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. The main effects were level of yellow grease (0, 3, or 6%) and alfalfa hay (3.5 or 7%) in corn-based diets containing 15% potato by-product (PB). The added treatment was 6% tallow and 7% alfalfa in a barley-based diet containing 15% PB. Dry matter intake and ADG were not affected by diet; however, G:F and diet NE content increased linearly (P < 0.10) with yellow grease. Kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (2.0 to 2.3 +/- 0.07) and yield grade (2.8 to 3.1 +/- 0.09) increased linearly (P < or = 0.05) with yellow grease. Steers fed corn plus 6% yellow grease had lower (P < 0.05) beef firmness and beef texture scores but greater (P < 0.01) fat color score than those fed barley plus 6% tallow. Moisture retention of beef was not affected by dietary treatment, except purge score during retail storage, which was decreased linearly (P < 0.01) from 2.1 to 1.6 +/- 0.06 by level of yellow grease. Steaks from steers fed barley plus 6% tallow had greater (P < 0.05) shear force than those from steers fed corn plus 6% yellow grease, and beef flavor increased linearly (P < 0.05) from 6.2 to 6.7 +/- 0.11 as the level of yellow grease increased. Level of yellow grease linearly increased (P < 0.01) transvaccenic acid (TVA) by 61% and CLA content of beef by 48%. Beef from steers fed corn plus yellow grease had lower (P < 0.05) palmitoleic and oleic acids and greater (P < 0.05) linoleic, TVA, and CLA than beef from steers fed the barley-tallow diet. Feeding yellow grease increased diet energy content, which increased carcass fatness, and altered beef fatty acid content, which increased beef flavor without affecting moisture retention, shelf life, or cooking properties of the beef. Additionally, beef from steers fed corn plus 6% yellow grease was more tender and had more polyunsaturated fatty acid content and CLA than beef from steers fed barley plus 6% tallow.     

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.     

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.