HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dozier, W. A. Articles by Branton, S. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dozier, W. A., III Articles by Branton, S. L.

Growth Performance, Meat Yield, and Economic Responses of Broilers Provided Diets Varying in Amino Acid Density from Thirty-Six to Fifty-Nine Days of Age¹

W. A. Dozier, III^*,2, M. T. Kidd, A. Corzo, J. Anderson and S. L. Branton^*

^* USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, PO Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367; Department of Poultry Science and Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Correspondence: ² Corresponding author: bdozier{at}msa-msstate.ars.usda.gov

Providing broilers diets formulated to a high amino acid density early in life improves subsequent growth performance and meat yield. Diets formulated to high amino acid concentrations beyond 5 wk of age may increase breast meat yield but may not be economically justified. This study examined growth, meat yield, and economic responses of broilers provided diets varying in amino acid density from 36 to 59 d of age. Birds were given a 4-phase feeding program: starter (1 to 17 d), grower (18 to 35 d), withdrawal-1 (WD1; 36 to 47 d), and withdrawal-2 (WD2; 48 to 59 d of age). All birds were fed a common, high amino acid density diet to 35 d of age (HH). Broilers were provided diets characterized as being high (H), moderate (M), or low (L) in amino acid density for the WD1 and WD2 periods. Dietary treatments were HHHH, HHHM, HHHL, HHMM, HHML, and HHLL from d 1 to 59, with H, M, and L representing the diets fed during each of the 4 periods (starter, grower, WD1 and WD2).

Cumulative feed conversion was improved when the HHHH feeding regimen was fed, whereas other final live performance measurements were not affected. Decreasing amino acid density (HHLL and HHHL) limited yields of breast fillets, tenders, and total white meat when compared with the HHHH regimen. As amino acid density decreased from HHHH to HHHM, HHMM, and HHML, carcass yield and breast meat yield were not affected. In general, providing the HHHH feeding regimen increased economic gross feeding margin compared with the other dietary treatments.

Key Words: broiler • feeding regimen • lysine • methionine • nutrient density

¹ Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. A. Dozier III, A. Corzo, and M. T. Kidd Apparent Metabolizable Energy Needs of Broiler Chicks Subjected to Diverse Ambient Temperature Regimens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2008; 17(1): 134 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. A. Dozier III, M. T. Kidd, and A. Corzo Dietary Amino Acid Responses of Broiler Chickens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2008; 17(1): 157 - 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. A. Dozier III, A. Corzo, M. T. Kidd, and S. L. Branton Dietary Apparent Metabolizable Energy and Amino Acid Density Effects on Growth and Carcass Traits of Heavy Broilers J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(2): 192 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]