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Diet Formulation for Broilers Based on Total versus Digestible Amino Acids

Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Departamento de Zootecnia, 36570 Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Phone: 55-31-891-2421; FAX: 55-31-899-2275

M. Pack

Degussa AG, Applied Technology Feed Additives, P. O. Box 1345, D-63403 Hanau, Germany

Correspondence: H. S. Rostagno

A number of true amino acid digestibility assays were conducted in adult roosters on a range of feedstuffs. Using these feedstuff batches, different broiler starters and growers were formulated. A corn-soy positive control diet with high amino acid digestibility (HD) was compared to another diet using various by-products to partially replace corn and soybean meal. This second diet with low amino acid digestibility (LD) was formulated to contain the same levels of total lysine and total sulfur amino acids as diet HD. A third diet (LD + AA) was similar to diet LD, but with L-lysine•HCl and DL-methionine added to obtain levels of true digestible amino acids equal to diet HD. All three treatments consisted of a starter diet fed to 21 days and a grower diet fed to 42 days of age. Diet LD significantly depressed growth, feed efficiency, and breast meat yield compared to control diet HD. Balancing digestible amino acid contents by additional L-lysine•HC1 and DL-methionine essentially restored growth performance and carcass quality to the level of the control diet. This result demonstrates the potential benefit of switching diet formulation from total to digestible amino acids. The analysis of feed cost per kg broiler weight or per kg breast weight revealed considerable benefits from cheap by-products when diets were properly balanced in their digestible amino acid contents.

Key Words: Breast meat • broilers • carcass • digestible amino acids • economics • growth • lysine • methionine

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