Quantitative estimates of the optimal balance between digestible lysine and the true protein contents of broiler feeds.

Typical poultry feed formulation models have been developed for meeting the minimum specifications of the essential amino acids (EAAs), ignoring the importance of providing precise levels of the non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) that are required for maximum performance. Including true protein (TP) values in these models in relation to EAAs can most accurately account for the requirements of all amino acids (AAs) in the ration (essential, non-essential and excess EAAs). Data from recent research reports on the digestible lysine (dLys) requirements for maximum weight gain and minimum feed conversion ratio (FCR) were compiled from the literature. dLys requirements and the TP contents of the feeds were recalculated based on common ingredient composition values. Broken-line linear (BLL) and broken-line quadratic (BLQ) models were fitted to the data and compared. The dLys requirements of broilers (g/kg diet) for body weight gain (BWG) and FCR were found to increase linearly as a function of the true and crude protein contents of the diet. These relationships were not affected by either age or sex. As chickens aged, the dLys requirements decreased. However, the dLys requirement to TP ratio did not change with age for BWG or FCR. For maximum BWG and minimum FCR, the dLys requirements were estimated from the prediction models to be 4.92% ± 0.51 and 5.58% ± 0.70 of the TP level of the diet, using the BLL models, respectively. The good linear relationship between the dLys requirement and TP level allows the prediction of the variables from each other for use in feed formulation to represent the requirements of both EAAs and NEAAs. The dietary dLys requirements were estimated to be lower using the BLL vs. the BLQ models. TP was a better predictor of dLys requirements than crude protein (higher R(2) values).

Teaching the principles of least-cost poultry feed formulation utilizing the Solver function within a computer software workbook.

A Microsoft Excel workbook, User-Friendly Feed Formulation with Data from Australia (UffdAu.xlsm), has been developed for teaching feed formulation techniques to tertiary level, university students. It runs under both Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS operating systems. The example ingredient composition matrix is based on the Australian Feed Ingredient Database to illustrate the biological and econometric principles of least-cost feed formulation. The nutrient data are based roughly on recent primary breeder company recommendations. The workbook is easily adapted to appropriate ingredients, nutrients, and prices most relevant to the students, wherever it is used. The workbook uses the linear routines of Excel's Solver add-in under the Data heading in the header Ribbon. There is a worksheet illustrating how to adapt non-linear responses such as exogenous enzymes to typical linear models using a step function. Additional worksheets illustrate how proximate analysis can be interpreted in modern analytical chemistry terms and, how various feed energy measures are related to feed composition. UffdAu.xlsm is available free of charge from the Poultry Hub Australia website (https://www.poultryhub.org).

Interpreting experiments on egg production--statistical considerations.

A given data set can be analyzed many ways, but only one is the correct analysis based on the design actually used when running the experiment. This work gives a tutorial-like illustration of the effects of the presence of a regression variable (or covariate) on the recorded responses in an experiment set up as a standard factorial design and shows how the analysis results are to be adjusted for the presence of covariates. An underlying assumption of a factorial model is that each of the treatments (e.g., diets) is randomly allocated to different subjects (hens). When many measurements (e.g., over time) are made on the same subject (hen), this independence assumption is violated; in these cases, the design is an example from the class of repeated measures designs. The difference in analysis between factorial designs and repeated measures designs is also discussed. Then, the 2 concepts are merged wherein the results for a repeated measures analysis have to be adjusted for the presence of covariates. The paper concludes with analyses on the results of egg production responses from an experiment in which repeated measurements were made on the same hens and in which an unanticipated temperature covariate was present.

Effects of balanced dietary protein levels on egg production and egg quality parameters of individual commercial layers.

The effects of a series of balanced dietary protein levels on egg production and egg quality parameters of laying hens from 18 through 74 wk of age were investigated. One hundred forty-four pullets (Bovans) were randomly assigned to individual cages with separate feeders including 3 different protein level series of isocaloric diets. Diets were separated into 4 phases of 18-22, 23-32, 33-44, and 45-74 wk of age. The high protein (H) series contained 21.62, 19.05, 16.32, and 16.05% CP, respectively. Medium protein (M) and low protein (L) series were 2 and 4% lower in balanced dietary protein. The results clearly demonstrated that the balanced dietary protein level was a limiting factor for BW, ADFI, egg weight, hen day egg production (HDEP), and feed per kilogram of eggs. Feeding with the L series resulted in lower ADFI and HDEP (90.33% peak production) and more feed per kilogram of eggs compared with the H or M series (HDEP; 93.23 and 95.68% peak production, monthly basis). Egg weight responded in a linear manner to balanced dietary protein level (58.78, 55.94, and 52.73 g for H, M, and L, respectively). Feed intake of all hens, but especially those in the L series, increased considerably after wk 54 when the temperature of the house decreased due to winter conditions. Thus, hens fed the L series seemed particularly dependent on house temperature to maintain BW, ADFI, and HDEP. For egg quality parameters, percent yolk, Haugh units, and egg specific gravity were similar regardless of diets. Haugh units were found to be greatly affected by the variation of housing temperature (P = 0.025). Maximum performance cannot always be expected to lead to maximum profits. Contrary to the idea of a daily amino acid requirement for maximum performance, these results may be used to determine profit-maximizing levels of balanced dietary protein based on the cost of protein and returns from different possible protein levels that may be fed.

Amino acid digestibility and metabolizable energy of genetically selected soybean products.

To determine the ME and amino acid digestibility of 5 soybean meal (SBM) samples, a precision-fed rooster assay and a chick assay were conducted. The 5 samples were cold-pressed (extruded) soybean meals or solvent-extracted (defatted) soybean meal. Of the cold-pressed varieties (unheated), there was an ultra-low trypsin SBM, a low-trypsin SBM, and a heated and unheated commodity SBM. The solvent-extracted SBM was a heated commodity blend. The TME and AME values were compared between each category: cold-pressed and defatted, as well as between the 2 assays. Semipurified diets containing dextrose as the main energy source were formulated to meet the bird's nutrient requirements, with each diet containing a different SBM product. The TME rooster assay was a precision-fed rooster assay in which 5 birds per diet were fasted for 24 h, crop intubated with 35 g of the test diet containing 46.58% cold-pressed or defatted SBM, and excreta was then collected for 48 h. The total aromatic amino acids rooster assay followed the same protocol, but cecectomized birds were used. For the chick assay, 480 one-day-old chicks were fed a standard corn-SBM starter diet until 17 d of age, and on d 18, the chicks were allowed ad libitum access to the SB-dextrose diets. Excreta were collected on d 22, dried, ground, and analyzed for gross energy and CP to determine ME. The SBM samples that were genetically selected to have lower trypsin inhibitor levels and higher protein had higher ME values and increased amino acid digestibility than the commodity cold-pressed SBM samples. Genetic selection of soybeans for certain traits can have positive effects on the ME value and amino acid digestibility for roosters and chicks.

Effect of feeding low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles on the performance of broilers.

Manufacturers of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are changing practices to extract corn oil from DDGS in the process of ethanol production. The resulting product is called low-oil DDGS (LO-DDGS) and may be included in broiler diets. Two LO-DDGS and one unextracted DDGS were used in a broiler performance trial to determine maximum levels of inclusion without detrimental effects. Corn- and soybean meal-based mash diets were used with different DDGS samples included at 10 or 20%. Six hundred thirty Cobb 500 male by-product chicks were randomly assigned to 6 replicate pens containing 15 chicks each and fed diets from 0 to 18 d of age. There was a significant interaction between source and level on BW at d 11 and 18 when 10 and 20% of LO-DDGS was included compared with the control group. There was also a significant effect of source and level interaction on BW at d 18 (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency from d 0 to 18 was improved when 10% LO-DDGS was used compared with 20% inclusion. Abdominal fat pad weights were higher when LO-DDGS samples were included at 10 or 20% compared with the control group. There was a significant effect of DDGS source and level on fat pad weights (P < 0.05). Producers may achieve an increase in performance when including 10% LO-DDGS in broiler diets. Up to 20% inclusion levels may have no detrimental effects on performance parameters compared with a standard corn-soybean diet.

Partition of variation for predicting experimental power with a broiler chicken example.

A 1932 editorial in Poultry Science stated that sampling theory, or experimental power, could be useful for "the investigator to know how many … birds to put into each experimental pen." Nevertheless, in the past 90 yr, appropriate experimental power estimates have rarely been applied to research with poultry. To estimate the overall variation and appropriate use of resources with animals in pens, a nested analysis should be conducted. Bird-to-bird and separate pen-to-pen variances were separated for 2 datasets, one from Australia and one from North America. The implications of using variances for birds per pen and pens per treatments are detailed. With 5 pens per treatment, increasing birds per pen from 2 to 4 decreased the SD from 183 to 154, but increasing birds/pen from 100 to 200 only decreased the SD from 70 to 60. With 15 birds per treatment, increasing pens/treatment from 2 to 3 decreased SD from 140 to 126, but increasing pens/treatment from 11 to 12 only decreased the SD from 91 to 89. Choosing the number of birds to include in any study should be based on expectations from historical data and the amount of risk investigators are prepared to accept. Too little replication will not allow relatively small differences to be detected. On the other hand, too much replication is wasteful in terms of birds and resources, and violates the fundamental principles of the ethical use of animals in research. Two general conclusions can be made from this analysis. First, it is very difficult to detect 1% to 3% differences in broiler chicken body weight with only one experiment consistently because of inherent genetic variability. Second, increasing either birds per pen or pens per treatment decreased the SD in a diminishing returns fashion. The example presented here is body weight, of primary importance to production agriculture, but it is applicable whenever a nested design is used (multiple samples from the same bird or tissue, etc.).

A spreadsheet to construct power curves and clarify the meaning of the word equivalent in evaluating experiments with poultry.

Persons conducting research trials often want to be able to declare that treatments, or particularly products, are equivalent (will provide indistinguishable results). However, all research trials can ever provide is the probability that the observed differences in an experiment were due to chance. Also, in trials in which variances are high and there are few replications, it is quite easy to declare no significant differences and equivalency. This paper describes a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that can be used to easily construct experimental power curves. Such curves predict the proportion of experiments that would yield a given level of significance as the difference between the 2 means increases. The spreadsheet uses the mean and variances from an experiment with the Norm.inv and Rand functions of Excel to simulate outcomes from identical experiments. An experiment that declared GMO and normal feed ingredients to be equivalent was used to illustrate the application of power curves. The experiment had 12 replicate pens of broilers per treatment. The outcomes of 90,000 simulated experiments, each with the same overall variance, but 0 through 8 percent differences in treatment means, were graphed. When the published experiment purported to show equivalence, really it showed that a significant difference in growth (P < 0.05) would be expected to be detected 50% of the time if the means were different by 3.1%; a difference of 4.6% in treatment means could be detected 80% of the time by such an experiment. This Excel spreadsheet enables such a power analysis to be conducted. Easy modifications of the spreadsheet can illustrate the influence of changing the variance or number of replications on the expected power of future experiments. The economic impact of small changes in performance is also discussed.

The effects of broiler chicken growth rate on valgus, varus, and tibial dyschondroplasia.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the growth rate of broilers influences their susceptibilities to bone abnormalities, causing major leg problems. Leg angulations, described in the twisted legs syndrome as valgus and bilateral or unilateral varus, were investigated in 2 subpopulations of mixed-sex Arkansas randombred broilers. Valgus angulation was classified as mild (tibia-metatarsus angle between 10 and 25°), intermediate (25-45°), or severe (> 45°). Body weight was measured at hatch and weekly until 6 wk of age. There were 8 different settings of approximately 450 eggs each. Two subpopulations, slow growing (bottom quarter, n = 581) and fast growing (top quarter, n = 585), were created from a randombred population based on their growth rate from hatch until 6 wk of age. At 6 wk of age, tibial dyschondroplasia incidences were determined by making a longitudinal cut across the right tibia. The tibial dyschondroplasia bone lesion is characterized by an abnormal white, opaque, unmineralized, and unvascularized mass of cartilage occurring in the proximal end of the tibia. It was scored from 1 (mild) to 3 (severe) depending on the cartilage plug abnormality size. Mean lesion scores of left and right valgus and tibial dyschondroplasia (0.40, 0.38, and 0.06) of fast-growing broilers were higher than those (0.26, 0.28, and 0.02) of slow-growing broilers (P = 0.0002, 0.0037, and 0.0269), respectively. Growth rate was negatively associated with the twisted legs syndrome and a bone abnormality (tibial dyschondroplasia) in this randombred population.

Evaluation of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques for total and phytate phosphorus of common poultry feed ingredients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of estimating the total and phytate P content of common poultry feed ingredients by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Samples of 8 plant-origin feedstuffs were collected from poultry producers in the USA and Canada during the summer of 2009: corn (133), soybean meal (114), corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 89), bakery by-product meal (95), wheat (22), wheat middlings (31), canola meal (21), and wheat shorts (15). The samples were assayed by standard wet chemical techniques for total and phytate P contents. There was considerable variation found in most of the ingredient components. The average values for the laboratory determinations versus NIRS predictions were all within 0.030 for total phosphorus and 0.012 for phytate P. For phytate P, the magnitude of the standard errors of the predictions ranged from 0.009% for soybean meal to 0.012% for canola meal. These values may be sufficiently precise for nutritionists to use the NIRS predictions to estimate how much of the P in their ingredients is not available to the birds. For total P, the magnitude of the standard errors of the predictions ranged from 0.027% for corn DDGS to 0.142% for wheat middlings. In general, total P predictions by NIRS were not generally sufficiently precise for most nutritionists to use in feed formulation. Decision making may be quite easy in using NIRS estimates for the phytate P content of bakery by-product meal [R(2) = 0.89 for predicted = f (determined)] but not for the total P content of soybean meal (R(2) = 0.03). It is concluded that precise estimates of phytate P through NIRS should allow nutritionists for more efficient formulate and mix feed, lowering feed costs and reducing the amount of residual polluting phosphorus in poultry excreta.

Phytate and other nutrient components of feed ingredients for poultry.

Samples of feed ingredients were collected from poultry feed mills in the United States and Canada: corn (133), soybean meal (114), corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 89), bakery by-product meal (95), wheat (22), wheat middlings (31), canola meal (21), and wheat shorts (15). The samples were assayed by standard wet chemical techniques for CP, fat, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, calcium, phosphorus, phytate phosphorus, and ash. There was considerable variation found in most of the ingredient components. Forty-two of the 64 CV were above 10.0%. The calcium contents of the ingredients were the most variable, followed by the fat contents. The CP contents were the least variable. There were some fairly consistent relationships observed across samples; in general, acid detergent fiber and NDF were positively correlated, as were ash and mineral levels. Crude protein and fiber levels were positively related, except for wheat shorts, but the relationships were not strong. Phytate P was found to be positively related to ash and total P, as expected, except for corn DDGS. The fat content of corn was found to be negatively related to the NDF content. Significant (P < 0.004) linear regressions were found between phytate P and total P for corn, soybean meal, bakery by-product meal, wheat, wheat middlings, and wheat shorts. The average nonphytate P content of the ingredients was 49.8%, ranging from 38.8% for wheat middlings to 73.2% for DDGS. The phytate P content of wheat and wheat by-products could be predicted from their proximate compositions, with coefficients of determination in excess of 0.740. Predictions for the other ingredients were not as good.

Strain and sex effects on growth performance and carcass traits of contemporary commercial broiler crosses.

In total, 3,840 sexed birds from 6 commercial cross broiler strains (4 male and 3 female) were raised and processed to analyze the effect of strain and sex on growth performance and carcass traits. Chicks from M1 × F1, M2 × F1, M3 × F1, M4 × F1, M3 × F2, and M4 × F3 crosses were sexed. Fifty female and 40 male chicks were randomly allocated to 24 floor pens (119 × 300 cm) covered with pine shavings in each of 4 rooms. The FCR was adjusted for the weight of dead birds (AFCR). Four birds/pen were processed at 7 wk of age. Carcasses were deboned after 2 h of chilling (n = 32 birds per treatment). There were significant strain by sex interactions for BW gain from 0 to 21 and 0 to 48 d. Strain differences in growth rate and mortality increased with age. The cross with the fastest growth rate also had the highest mortality. Because of differences in mortality and carcass yields, birds with the fastest growth (0-48 d) did not produce the most salable meat. Both the heaviest live BW per bird at 48 d (3.45 kg) and highest mortality (13.40%) were observed with the M4 × F3 cross. However, the heaviest live BW per 1,000 chicks placed was from the M3 × F2 cross (3,107 kg). The highest chilled carcass yield was from the M3 × F2 cross (76.05% of live BW) as was the highest meat yield (2,364 kg per 1,000 chicks placed) and highest pectoralis meat yield (805 kg per 1,000 chicks placed). The M3 × F2 cross produced the most total white meat (1,058 kg per 1,000 chicks placed), but interestingly the slowest-growing strain (M1 × F1) produced more white meat (breast + tenders + wings) than did the fastest-growing M4 × F3 strain (980 kg vs. 1,002 kg per 1,000 chicks placed). These results demonstrate the complexity of choosing between commercial strain crosses. The most profitable choice will be dependent on whether whole birds or parts are marketed and the relative values of the parts.

The effects of growth rate on leg morphology and tibia breaking strength, mineral density, mineral content, and bone ash in broilers.

Fast-growing broilers are especially susceptible to bone abnormalities, causing major problems for broiler producers. The cortical bones of fast-growing broilers are highly porous, which may lead to leg deformities. Leg problems were investigated in 6-wk-old Arkansas randombred broilers. Body weight was measured at hatch and at 6 wk. There were 8 different settings of approximately 450 eggs each. Two subpopulations, slow-growing (SG; bottom quarter, n=511) and fast-growing (FG; top quarter, n=545), were created from a randombred population based on their growth rate from hatch until 6 wk of age. At 6 wk of age, the broilers were processed and chilled at 4°C overnight before deboning. Shank (78.27±8.06 g), drum stick (190.92±16.91 g), and thigh weights (233.88±22.66 g) of FG broilers were higher than those of SG broilers (54.39±6.86, 135.39±15.45, and 168.50±21.13 g, respectivly; P<0.001). Tibia weights (15.36±2.28 g) of FG broilers were also greater than those of SG broilers (11.23±1.81 g; P<0.001). Shank length (81.50±4.71 g) and tibia length (104.34±4.45 mm) of FG broilers were longer than those of SG broilers (71.88±4.66 and 95.98±4.85 mm, respectively; P<0.001). Shank diameter (11.59±1.60 mm) and tibia diameter (8.20±0.62 mm) of FG broilers were wider than those of SG broilers (9.45±1.74, 6.82±0.58 mm, respectively; P<0.001). Tibia breaking strength (28.42±6.37 kg) of FG broilers was higher than those of SG broiler tibia (21.81±5.89 kg; P<0.001). Tibia density and bone mineral content (0.13±0.01 g/cm2 and 1.29±0.23 g, respectively) of FG broilers were higher than those of SG broiler tibia (0.11±0.01 g/cm2 and 0.79±0.1 g; P<0.001). Tibia percentage of ash content (39.76±2.81) of FG broilers was lower than that of SG broilers (39.99±2.67; P=0.173). Fast-growing broiler bones were longer, wider, heavier, stronger, more dense, and contained more ash than SG ones. After all parameters were calculated per unit of final BW at 6 wk, tibia density and bone ash percentage of FG broilers were lower than those of SG broilers.

Effects of incubation temperature on the bone development of broilers.

Manipulating the development of the leg bone by making simple changes to incubation temperature could help reduce the incidence of abnormalities. This study tested the hypothesis that increasing or decreasing the temperature of chick incubation by 1°C for 3 d during ED 4 to 7 affects hatchability, growth, and leg abnormalities of Cobb 500 broilers fed 3 diets: a diet that induced tibial dyschondroplasia, a Ca-deficient diet that induced rickets, and a P-deficient diet that induced rickets. In experiment 1, eggs hatched earlier, and more eggs hatched, at 38.5°C (92.77%) compared with at 37.5°C (86.22%). Body weight was lower in chicks incubated at the higher temperature compared with those incubated at the lower temperature (44.66 vs. 42.92 g). In experiment 2, egg setting times were +17 h for 36.5°C eggs and -10 h for 38.5°C compared with standard setting at 37.5°C (508 h). Hatchability of fertile eggs (92.92%) was highest at 37.5°C and decreased at 36.5°C (89.82%) and 38.5°C (81.55%). Body weight was lower (48.98 g) at 36.5°C than at 37.5°C (49.57 g) and at 38.5°C (50.56 g). Experiment 3 separated effects of incubation temperature and incubation time and was conducted with control and Ca-deficient diets. No main effects or interactions between incubation temperature or time and bone abnormalities were detected. It is important to note that eggs hatched at different times in this study. A difference as little as 1°C for 3 d during ED 4 to 7 affected hatching time and weight.

The effects of dietary fluoride on growth and bone mineralization in broiler chicks.

Fluoride has been shown to have varying degrees of beneficial effects on bone mineralization and bone strength, despite its toxic effects on growth and leg disorders. Some studies have demonstrated an increase in bone ash resulting from F supplementation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether low levels of dietary F would have any beneficial effect on the bone strength and leg disorders of young chicks fed P-deficient diets. Effects on BW and feed efficiency were also observed to monitor for F toxicity. One-day-old straight-run Cobb × Cobb broiler chicks were weighed, randomly allocated to treatment groups, housed in electrically heated wire-floored battery brooders, and provided with water and feed for ad libitum consumption. Phosphorus-deficient diets were formulated to induce P rickets with 2 different P sources. Treatment 1 contained feed grade dicalcium phosphate to simulate a commercial diet. Treatment 2 contained purified dicalcium phosphate to represent a diet with minimal F (~0.46 mg/kg). Treatments 3 and 4 used purified dicalcium phosphate as the P source and contained 10 and 20 mg/kg of F from NaF, respectively. Four more treatments were added for experiment 2. Treatments 5, 6, 7, and 8 used purified dicalcium phosphate as the P source and contained 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/kg of F from NaF, respectively. The analyzed F values in the diet were lower than the formulated values as a result of an unexplained lower than desired rate of recovery (72%) of an internal standard. Chicks fed purified calcium phosphate grew better in experiment 1 (P < 0.05) and had a lower incidence of P-deficiency rickets in experiment 2 (P < 0.01) than did birds fed feed grade dicalcium phosphate. Percentage of bone ash was increased by increasing the F level in the diets in experiment 1, but not experiment 2. It was concluded that even low levels of F, such as those used in the present study, have the potential to increase bone quality.

Evaluation of an indigenous source of rock phosphate as a supplement for broiler chickens.

This study investigated the effects of replacing dicalcium phosphate (DCP) with Hazara rock phosphate (HRP) on the growth performance of broiler chickens. The purpose was to determine the maximum level of F that could be well tolerated. The HRP (13.16% P and 2.98% F) was incorporated into a standard corn- and soybean meal-based diet by replacing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of DCP based on P. Each treatment consisted of 5 replicate pens of 10 chicks each. The Ca and nonphytate P contents of all diets were maintained constant at 1.0 and 0.45%, respectively. Replacing 25% DCP with HRP significantly increased average BW gain. Substituting 100% HRP (562 mg of F/kg) decreased (P < 0.05) BW gain. The BW gain was maximized at 63.5:36.5 (DCP:HRP) using a quadratic relationship: BW gain (g) = 1,128.6 + 2.6848 × HRP - 0.0368 × HRP(2). Increasing the level of HRP decreased feed intake: feed intake (g) = 1,987.4 + 2.775 × HRP - 0.0515 × HRP(2). The effect of HRP was not pronounced (significant at P < 0.05) until 75% of DCP was replaced by HRP. Feed intake decreased by an average 3.77 g with each 1.0% increase in the levels of HRP beyond 27% HRP substitution. Replacing DCP with HRP up to 50% caused a significant increase in hot carcass weights. The Ca content of tibia was a quadratic function of HRP and was predicted to be highest at 56% HRP substitution. However, increasing HRP in the diet gradually decreased tibia P content (linear function). Serum Ca was increased by substituting HRP for DCP (linear effect). Increasing HRP in the diet decreased the P content of the serum and was predicted to be lowest (P < 0.05) beyond 50% HRP substitution, suggesting poor P availability at high HRP. In conclusion, growth was maximized by feeding about 36.5% HRP (205 mg of F/kg) and 63.5% DCP as P supplements. Using a multiple range test, it was concluded that between 25 and 50% DCP with HRP replacement (141 and 281 mg of F/kg, respectively) could be used safely without significantly decreasing the growth performance of broiler chickens.

Evaluation of corn distillers dried grains with solubles as an alternative ingredient for broilers.

The effects of graded levels of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were investigated as a partial replacement for sources of protein, energy, and other nutrients for broilers when the digestible amino acid balance was maintained. Zero, 8, 16, and 24% DDGS were incorporated into isonutritive diets at the expense of corn, soybean meal, and dl-Met. Poultry oil, l-Lys, and l-Thr additions increased with increasing levels of DDGS. Diets were each fed to 36 Cobb 500 straight-run broilers in 6 floor pens in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, broilers fed ≥8% DDGS showed increased BW gain compared with those fed the control diet during the 0- to 18-d starter period (P = 0.0164) but were almost identical in BW at 42 d (P = 0.9395). The only difference at 42 d was in the carcass fat composition of female broilers: percentage of fat pad decreased with increasing DDGS level (P = 0.0133). Corn DDGS reduced the pellet durability index. However, the pellet durability index was not related to growth or feed utilization. In experiment 2 at 42 d, broilers fed all levels of DDGS showed increased BW gain compared with those fed the control diet. Broilers may perform well when fed properly balanced feeds containing up to 24% DDGS despite reduced pellet quality.

Broiler performance, hatching egg, and age relationships of progeny from standard and dwarf broiler dams.

The relationship of egg and chick weights to the performance of broiler chickens from two 42-wk-old flocks (standard and dwarf dams) having male parents from the same genetic stock was investigated in this study. Fertility (91.7 vs. 94.7%) and hatchability (95.2 vs. 96.3%) were not significantly (P > 0.10) different for eggs from standard and dwarf dams, respectively. Egg weight contributed significantly to the variation in BW [BW = ß(0) + ß(i) (egg weight) + ß(i) (dam) + ß(i) (sex)]. Body weight as a function of chick weight was not significant. However, chick weight was significant when included in a model with egg weight, suggesting that significant differences in BW at 50 d could be attributed to both egg and chick weights. The negative coefficient for chick weight indicated that between the 2 broilers of the same egg weight, the one with the greater chick weight would have the smaller 50-d BW. Chick weight was a linear function of egg weight. Similarly, the effect of egg or chick weight on broiler BW at 35 or 50 d was best represented by a single linear function. Dam genotype did not contribute significantly to variation in 50-d BW after variation attributable to egg weight was removed from the model. Differences in BW attributable to egg weight increased with broiler age. The coefficients of egg weight and chick weight showed that the differences in BW per gram of egg were 1.43, 3.06, 6.24, and 7.61 g and those per gram of chick were 1.87, 3.99, 8.14, and 9.93 g, respectively, at 7, 21, 35, and 50 d. Body weight increased by 0.1563 times egg weight (and 0.2092 times chick weight) with each additional day of age for both sexes and genotypes. Clearly, both egg and chick weights are important for modeling or predicting market-age broiler BW and economic returns. The relatively small relationship between BW and egg weight demonstrates that genetic selection over the past 3 decades has decreased the influence of egg weight on broiler growth. The present dwarf broiler breeder dams may produce progeny comparable in performance with standard dams.

An economic analysis of a methionine source comparison response model.

Methionine is the first-limiting amino acid in corn and soybean meal-based poultry diets. Therefore, its supplementation level is of primary economic importance to poultry production. The responses to the methionine sources dl-methionine (DLM) and methionine-hydroxy analog-free acid (HMTBA) have been compared using various methodologies. The so-called common plateau nonlinear model has been used to estimate relative bioavailabilities of the sources. This model has a coefficient that is used as a single value to compare the relative bioavailabilities of the sources for independent technical parameters like gain and feed efficiency. This model was used previously in a meta-analysis of published experiments and found 79 and 81% relative biological efficiencies of HMTBA for DLM for ADG and feed utilization efficiency, respectively. Because different sources would have different optimal feeding levels to maximize profits, we demonstrate the challenge of calculating a single optimal level for the different methionine sources. Further, we apply an economic analysis to results of the previous meta-analysis to demonstrate that the relative values of HMTBA and DLM for BW and ADG are between 81 and 86%, depending on the value of a broiler and the costs of feed and DLM.

Genetic interrelationships among phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, and energy bioavailability in a growing chicken population.

A random-mating population was used to study the genetic interrelationship between phytate P (PPB), Ca (CaB), N (NB), and energy bioavailability (EB), BW at 4 wk of age, relative growth (RG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Heritability estimates for PPB, CaB, NB, and EB were 0.09, 0.13, 0.16, and 0.10, respectively, and those of BW, RG, and FCR were 0.66, 0.15, and 0.10, respectively. Genetic correlations between PPB and BW, and FCR were moderate and negative, suggesting that improvement in PPB will impair growth. The genetic correlations between PPB and CaB, and EB and RG were positive and moderate, indicating that improvement in PPB would also lead to improved CaB, EB, and RG. Energy bioavailability was positively correlated with CaB, NB, PPB, and BW. Even though the genetic correlation between EB and the other traits measured, except RG and FCR, ranged from low to moderate, improving the ability of birds to utilize caloric energy in the feed would consequently improve PPB as well as growth. Improving PPB would reduce the amount of P in excreta and provide an additional savings if exogenous phytase were not added to poultry feed. The genetic correlation between PPB and NB was low but positive, whereas NB had a positive genetic correlation with BW. Therefore, selecting on NB will result in positive correlated responses in BW and PPB. Improving PPB and NB will not only improve productivity, but also reduce the polluting effects of P and N on the environment.