Metabolic and economic efficiency of broiler chicks as affected by dietary protein levels.

1. An experiment was designed to determine if decreasing excess amino acids in the diets of chicks would improve metabolic efficiency, as indicated by growth rate and food efficiency. 2. Semi-purified diets were fed with crude protein contents of 180 or 230 g/kg. The sources of protein were maize gluten meal, groundnut meal, sesame meal or soya-bean meal. Crystalline amino acids were supplemented to meet all amino acid requirements. 3. The dietary crude protein content had no statistically significant effect on weight gain or food consumption. The probability that the higher protein improved gain per food was 0.06. Protein source had a significant effect on all the responses measured. 4. Decreased concentrations of excess amino acids in chick diets had no favourable effects on weight gain or gain per food. Lower protein diets were more expensive per unit of gain.