ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of protein and methionine levels in a semiorganic
diet for dual-purpose type chickens on
slaughter performance and nitrogen balance
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Research Institute of Animal Production,
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science,
32-083 Balice, Poland
Publication date: 2008-06-24
Corresponding author
J. Koreleski
Research Institute of Animal Production,
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science,
32-083 Balice, Poland
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2008;17(3):381-391
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
In a model experiment, dual-purpose type chickens (Barret Rock×New Hampshire) were allocated
to 4 groups with 5 replications of 4 males and 4 females. For the first (1-49 days) and second
(50-83 days of age) period of feeding, the chickens were fed diets composed of feeds approved
for organic production. The diets for both periods contained lower (20 and 18%) or higher (22 and
19%) levels of crude protein, 0.36 and 0.25% or 0.38 and 0.28% of total methionine, and 0.66 and
0.57% or 0.70 and 0.61% sulphur amino acids, respectively. Diets were supplemented or not with
DL-methionine (Met). In the last week of each period, feed intake was determined, excreta were
collected for N-balance calculation. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality
were estimated and production index values calculated. On day 83 of life, 4 males and 4 females
were killed and slaughter analysis was performed.
The higher dietary crude protein level increased feed intake and worsened feed conversion in the
first and second period of feeding and increased feed intake for the whole experiment. Met supplemented
to the diets positively affected body weight gain, feed conversion and production index in the
second and entire feeding period. It also increased breast meat yield and decreased abdominal fat content
in carcass. Increased N-excretion and N-retention at the higher level of dietary crude protein and
the positive effect of Met supplementation on nitrogen utilization did not reach statistical significance
(P>0.05). Nevertheless, for the whole period of feeding, Met added to the diet reduced nitrogen pollution
of the environment from dual-purpose type chickens for a total 4.7 to 4.9 g/chick/83 days.
CITATIONS (2):
1.
The effect of dietary methionine levels on fattening performance and selected blood and tissue parameters of turkeys
Jan Jankowski, Magdalena Kubińska, Jerzy Juśkiewicz, Anna Czech, Zenon Zduńczyk
Archives of Animal Nutrition
2.
Effect of Supplementary Methionine on Feather Growth and Related Indicators of Pigeon Squabs
Y Wang, Z Guo, J Meng, X Chen, Z Yang, H Yang, Z Wang
Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science