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Exceeding Essential Amino Acid Requirements and Improving Their Balance as a Means to Minimize Heat Stress in Broilers

A. J. Zarate^*, E. T. Moran, Jr.^* and D. J. Burnham

^* Poultry Science Department, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
Ajinomoto Heartland, Inc. , Chicago, Illinois 60631

Correspondence: E. T. Moran, Jr. , E-mail: emoran{at}acesag.auburn.edu

Response of broilers reared under summer conditions to feeds having essential amino acid (EAA) levels approximating 110% of their expected requirement was examined with both sexes. A commercial-type feeding regimen known to enable favorable performance under optimal conditions represented the control. Environmental conditions were sufficiently hot to depress performance but not cause death. Purified amino acids were supplemented to increase levels of limiting EAA and improve their overall balance without altering existing CP and ME. Live performance was not affected, but abdominal fat removed from the carcasses after processing significantly increased when the 110% level of EAA had been fed. Yield of the carcass without its abdominal fat, incidence of associated defects, and recovery of deboned breast meat were similar between the two dietary treatments. Both sexes responded similarly to the feed treatments. Improved amount and balance of effective amino acid intake likely increased the proportion of productive energy recovered from dietary ME; however, realization was as depot fat rather than as a benefit on live performance or muscle formation.

Key Words: broiler • carcass quality • heat stress • amino acid requirement • productive energy