Utilization of low protein diets fed to 0 to 3 week broilers

Type Thesis

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A series of experiments were conducted to test the effects of feeding a low intact protein diet provided from corn and soybean meal to broilers during the starter phase of growth. The theory is that the broiler can achieve similar growth by feeding this diet when compared to the growth of a broiler fed an NRC corn and soybean meal diet. Preliminary experiments utilized amino acid ratios established for the turkey and applied them to broilers. Varying levels of protein provided from corn and soybean meal were titrated utilizing these ratios. Crystalline amino acids were added to provide all amino acids at or above NRC requirements. However, growth was found to be significantly different (P < 0.05) when comparing the positive control NRC diet to all other low protein treatments. Therefore, these experiments failed to yield the hypothesized response that was sought after. The goal of subsequent experiments was to first achieve growth and then establish the lowest amount of protein placed in the diet that could achieve comparable growth. An NRC diet served as the positive control and the amino acid levels for all treatment diets were raised to the levels found in the positive control diet. Crystalline amino acids were added to provide all amino acids at or above NRC requirements. Treatments were titrated with respect to protein in 1 and 2% increments. Results concluded that a 15% intact protein diet could achieve similar growth (P > 0.05) when compared to the NRC positive control diet.