Using crystalline amino acids to supplement broiler chicken requirements in reduced protein diets

The first experiment investigated the role of the non-essential amino acid, glycine, in broiler performance when fed reduced protein wheat-based diets. An industry-standard protein diet and three reduced protein diets with and without glycine supplementation were fed to male broilers from day 10 of age. Glycine was supplemented to equal that in the standard protein diet at 0.712 and 0.648% in grower and finisher diets respectively. Performance, water intake and amino acid digestibility were measured. Reducing crude protein reduced performance and water intake and increased nitrogen digestibility. Glycine supplementation increased performance and water intake, however, no effect was observed on nitrogen digestibility. When fed reduced protein diets, crystalline amino acids, including glycine, can be supplemented to maintain performance like that observed in standard protein diets.

首个实验旨在探究非必需氨基酸甘氨酸（glycine）在肉鸡饲喂低蛋白小麦基日粮时对其生产性能的作用。从10日龄起，向雄性肉鸡饲喂一种行业标准蛋白日粮以及三种添加或未添加甘氨酸的低蛋白日粮。在生长期和育肥期日粮中，甘氨酸的补充量分别为0.712%和0.648%，以达到标准蛋白日粮中的甘氨酸水平。研究测定了肉鸡的生产性能、饮水量及氨基酸消化率。降低粗蛋白水平会降低肉鸡的生产性能和饮水量，但会提高氮消化率。补充甘氨酸可提高生产性能和饮水量，但对氮消化率无显著影响。当日粮蛋白水平降低时，补充包括甘氨酸在内的结晶氨基酸可使肉鸡生产性能维持在标准蛋白日粮组的水平。