The response of male broiler chicks to a corn-soy diet supplemented with L-methionine, L-cystine, choline, sulfate, and vitamin B12.
Six experiments with male broiler chicks were conducted to study responses to dietary supplements of L-methionine, L-cystine, choline, sulfate, and vitamin B12. A corn-soy-poultry oil-based diet calculated to contain .38% methionine, .74% total sulfur containing amino acids, 23% protein, 3,265 kcal metabolizable energy/kg, and 1.39 mg/g of choline was fed. Analysis indicated an average of .38% Methionine (.35 to .45) .77% Methionine + Cysteine (.72 TO .92), and 1.23 mg choline/g feed (.99 to 1.56) in the basal diet. Chicks fed the basal diets gained an average of 508 g in 21 days and had average feed conversion ratios (FCR) of 1.55. Chicks fed diets supplemented with .2% L-methionine gained significantly more (P less than .05) than those fed the basal diet in each experiment (average gain = 551 g; FCR = 1.44). Chicks fed choline-supplemented diets gained as well as those fed L-methionine in five of six experiments (P greater than .05) (average gain = 541 g; FCR = 1.48). Chicks fed sodium sulfate-supplemented diets gained as well as those fed L-methionine in two of four experiments when adequate sodium was fed (average gain = 536; FCR = 1.50). Chicks fed choline and sulfate supplements together did no better than those fed choline supplements only, with adequate sodium levels in the basal diet. The same basal diet was fed in the last two experiments. In one trial, a response to vitamin B12 was observed; in the other there was no response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D002794:Choline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003553:Cystine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013025:Glycine max; D013431:Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003313:Zea mays
D013431:Sulfates; D003553:Cystine; D008715:Methionine; D002794:Choline; D014805:Vitamin B 12