Blood proteins and amino acids of female breeder turkeys fed on maize-soybean diets supplemented with methionine

Two hundred and six female breeder turkeys were fed on maize-soybean diets of equal energy content, containing 100, 120 or 140 g crude protein (CP)/kg to which DL-methionine was added at 0, 1, 2 or 3 g/kg diet in a factorial design. Serum albumin concentrations were found to be more sensitive measures of dietary protein adequacy than were total serum protein concentrations. Albumin concentrations at peak egg production were highest among birds fed on 120 and 140 g CP/kg diets. Four weeks later, they were highest only for those on the 140 g CP/kg diet. The elevated concentrations of blood threonine and lysine and the decreased concentration of glycine with increased dietary protein were in agreement with the data on egg production. These data suggested that a sub-optimal balance of dietary amino acids may have occurred.