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Dietary Lysine and Electrolyte Balance Do Not Interact to Affect Broiler Performance

FERMEX, Insurgentes Sur 1685 piso 14, Mexico City, CP 01020, Mexico

E. Avila-Gonzalez and U. Cortes-Poblano

Department of Poultry Production, University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

M. T. Kidd

Nutri-Quest, Inc., 1400 Elbridge Payne Road, Suite 110, Chesterfield, MO 63017; Phone: (314) 537-4057; FAX: (314) 532-1710

Correspondence: M. T. Kidd

The most limiting amino acids in poultry (methionine, lysine, and threonine) have become increasingly available for dietary supplementation at economical prices. This has given poultry nutritionists the opportunity to formulate low crude protein diets which more closely meet the birds' amino acid needs while minimizing amino acid excesses. As crude protein is decreased, potassium is decreased, reducing dietary electrolyte balance (DEB). However, the interaction of low crude protein-amino acid supplemented diets and DEB with subclinical acidosis in broilers is poorly understood.

This experiment evaluated two dietary levels of lysine (110 and 120% of NRC, 1994) and three DEB levels (180, 240, and 300 mEq/kg of diet) in commercial broilers from 1 to 35 days of age. Increasing dietary lysine to 120% of NRC recommendations improved 35 day broiler performance independent of DEB level.

Key Words: Altitude • broiler • electrolytes • low-crude protein • lysine