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

This Article 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 Kidd, M. T. Articles by Halley, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kidd, M. T. Articles by Halley, J. T.

Threonine Needs of Finishing Broilers: Growth, Carcass, and Economic Responses

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

S. P. Lerner

British United Turkey of America, Route 60 West, Lewisburg, WV 24901

J. P. Allard

O. K. Industries, Inc., P. O. Box 1119, Fort Smith, AR 72902

S. K. Rao

Choctaw Maid Farms, Inc., 3865 Highway 35 North, Carthage, MS 39051

J. T. Halley

Wayne Farms, 340 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville, GA 30501

Correspondence: M. T. Kidd, E-mail:nutri-quest{at}biokyowa.com

Marginal dietary deficiencies of threonine, the third limiting amino acid in broilers, may result in economic losses from increased feed conversion and reduced breast meat accretion. It is important, therefore, to meet the minimum dietary threonine level needed in a broiler diet. Few studies, however, have addressed the threonine needs of finishing broilers. Those which have do not agree with current NRC standards. This study was conducted to determine the level of threonine needed for performance, the carcass traits of finishing broilers, and the economic importance of threonine in terms of profitability.

A total of 4096 male commercial broilers received threonine-deficient diets containing corn, peanut meal, wheat middlings, poultry oil, and supplemental amino acids from 42 to 56 days of age. The experimental diets ranged from 0.45% to 0.81% total dietary threonine in 0.06% increments. This study included a corn-soybean-poultry meal control diet. Growth, feed conversion, and carcass responses of broilers fed the experimental diets supplement with surfeit threonine were equal to or better than responses obtained from broilers fed the control diet. A total dietary threonine level of 0.66% to 0.67% appears to be adequate to support good growth and carcass response in broilers from 42 to 56 days of age. Economic analysis indicated that the level of dietary threonine resulting in optimum profitability was near the level that resulted in optimum feed conversion and carcass composition.

Key Words: Amino acid • breast meat • broiler • economics • threonine

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. C. Fanatico, P. B. Pillai, P. Y. Hester, C. Falcone, J. A. Mench, C. M. Owens, and J. L. Emmert Performance, Livability, and Carcass Yield of Slow- and Fast-Growing Chicken Genotypes Fed Low-Nutrient or Standard Diets and Raised Indoors or with Outdoor Access Poult. Sci., June 1, 2008; 87(6): 1012 - 1021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Corzo, W. A. Dozier III, and M. T. Kidd Valine Nutrient Recommendations for Ross x Ross 308 Broilers Poult. Sci., February 1, 2008; 87(2): 335 - 338. [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]

				A. Corzo, M. T. Kidd, W. A. Dozier III, and S. L. Vieira Marginality and Needs of Dietary Valine for Broilers Fed Certain All-Vegetable Diets J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(4): 546 - 554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Corzo, M. T. Kidd, W. A. Dozier III, G. T. Pharr, and E. A. Koutsos Dietary Threonine Needs for Growth and Immunity of Broilers Raised Under Different Litter Conditions J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(4): 574 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]