Effect of added methionine and lysine on the performance of chicks fed different alfalfa protein concentrates.
Experiments were conducted to determine the limiting amino acids in chick diets containing 40% spray-dried heat coagulated alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) and 40% spray-dried fermented alfalfa protein concentrate (FAPC). Significant improvements in chick gains were observed when methionine (met) was supplemented to the 40% APC (82 vs. 119 g) and 40% FAPC (72 vs. 95 g) diets. Feed efficiency (gain/feed) was also improved by met supplementation (.233 vs. .343) to APC and (.236 vs. .299) in FAPC diets. Supplementation of lysine (lys) alone did not improve the gain in body weight in either APC or FAPC, but the addition of lysine improved the feed efficiency of chicks fed the FAPC + Met (.323).
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D008239:Lysine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000455:Medicago sativa; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008715:Methionine; D008239:Lysine