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Effect of Environmental Temperature, Dietary Protein, and Energy Levels on Broiler Performance

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 624-6263; FAX: (612) 625-5789

Craig N. Coon

The rationale for conducting the research was to determine the optimum dietary protein and energy concentration for maximum performance of broilers housed in different environmental temperatures. Male broilers were house in temperatures ranging from 21.1°C to 35°C and fed grower diets containing either 3050 or 3250 kcal ME/kg with five different levels of CP and amino acids. The broilers fed the high energy diets across all temperatures had significantly improved feed conversions and protein utilization. A significant interaction between dietary CP and ME occurred because broilers fed the low energy diets across all temperatures did not show gains related to increasing protein levels, thus indicating that energy intake was the limiting nutrient. The maximum average weight gain occurred for broilers house at 21.1°C and the best average feed conversion was produced at 26.6°C. The reduction in weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, protein utilization, and energy utilization, along with an increased percent body fat for broilers housed at temperatures >26.6°C and fed diets 21.6% CP indicated that protein and amino acid levels greater than NRC suggested levels do not compensate for lower feed intake.

Key Words: Amino acids • broilers • ME • protein • temperature

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