Browsing by Subject "Low crude protein"

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    Investigations on factors influencing the response of broiler chickens to low crude protein diets with specific regard to nonessential amino acids
    (2020) Hofmann, Philipp; Rodehutscord, Markus
    Nitrogen (N) excretion caused by animal husbandry can have negative effects on the environment. Lowering dietary crude protein (CP) concentrations can reduce these negative impacts by lowering the N excretion of the animals. However, reduction of dietary CP concentrations for broiler chickens may be accompanied by reduced growth. This thesis focused on the effects of dietary CP reduction on growth of broiler chickens and influencing factors that need to be considered in low CP diets. The first study was carried out to investigate to what extent dietary CP concentrations can be reduced when dietary glycine equivalent (Glyequi) and essential amino acid (AA) concentrations are adequately supplied. Further, it was the aim to determine the response of broiler chickens to dietary Glyequi concentrations at varying CP levels. Ten male broiler chickens each were housed in 1 of 84 metabolism units. Diets with three CP levels of 16.3% (CP16.3), 14.7% (CP14.7), and 13.2% (CP13.2) each containing four Glyequi concentrations of 12, 15, 18, and 21 g/kg were used. Quantitative excreta collection was carried out from days 18–21. The reduction of dietary CP concentrations decreased average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed ratio (G:F) from days 7–21 and increased the nitrogen-utilization efficiency (NUE). Supplementation of Glyequi increased ADG and G:F at CP13.2. The ADG at CP14.7 and G:F at CP14.7 and CP16.3 increased up to 15 g Glyequi/kg. These results indicated that the minimum to which dietary CP concentrations can be reduced in broiler chickens up to three weeks of age is between 16.3 and 14.7% when dietary Glyequi and essential AA are adequately supplied. Further, these findings showed that the growth-response of broiler chickens to dietary Glyequi is influenced by dietary CP concentrations. The second study was conducted to determine whether supplementation of single nonessential AA (neAA) can diminish or overcome the growth-decreasing effect of a diet with reduced dietary CP and neAA concentrations. Further, the effect of non-protein nitrogen supplementation in a diet with insufficient neAA concentrations was investigated. Nine male broiler chickens each were kept in 1 of 81 metabolism units. Two diets with different neAA concentrations, except Glyequi, and adequate essential AA concentrations were mixed resulting in CP levels of 17.8% (CP17.8), and 15.6% (CP15.6). The dietary Glyequi concentration was 15 g/kg in each diet. Other diets were mixed by supplementing either L-Alanine, L-Proline, L-Aspartic acid, a mix of L-Aspartic acid and L-Asparagine·H2O, L-Glutamic acid, or a mix of L-Glutamic acid and L-Glutamine to CP15.6 to achieve the respective neAA concentration of CP17.8. Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) was added to CP15.6 to achieve the CP concentration of CP17.8. Excreta were collected quantitatively from days 18–21. Highest ADG and G:F from days 7–21 were found at CP17.8 and decreased at CP15.6. Supplementation of aspartic acid and asparagine (Asp+Asn), glutamic acid (Glu), and glutamic acid and glutamine (Glu+Gln) increased ADG and G:F to a similar extent, but not to the level of CP17.8. The NUE was highest at CP15.6, and CP15.6 supplemented with alanine, proline, and Glu. Lower NUE was observed at CP17.8 than at CP15.6 without and with neAA supplementation. Overall lowest ADG, G:F, and NUE were found upon NH4Cl supplementation. These findings showed that individual supplementation of Asp+Asn, Glu, and Glu+Gln could partly overcome the growth-reducing effect of very low CP diets. NH4Cl was found unsuitable to increase growth. The aim of the third study was to investigate interactive effects among dietary Glyequi, cysteine (Cys), and choline (Cho) on the growth of broiler chickens. Ten male broiler chickens each were housed in 105 metabolism units. Excretion of N was determined from days 18–21. Five levels each of dietary Glyequi, Cys, and Cho were tested in 15 dietary treatments. Another diet was provided to 15 birds each in another 5 metabolism units to measure prececal AA digestibility. The G:F from days 7–21 increased with digestible Glyequi intake. Differences between low- and high-digestible Cys intake were low. Hardly any effect of Cho intake on G:F was found compared to digestible intake of Glyequi and Cys. The NUE was very high with low variation among treatments. These results showed that the interactive effects among dietary Glyequi, Cys, and Cho on growth were slightly pronounced. This was likely an effect of high NUE and its low variation that caused the Glyequi requirement to be low. In conclusion, the lowest level to which dietary CP for broiler chickens up to three weeks of age can be reduced is between 16.3 and 14.7%. The growth-decreasing effect of a diet with reduced neAA concentrations can be slightly overcome upon supplementation of Asp+Asn, Glu, and Glu+Gln. Moreover, dietary CP concentrations and the related amounts of excreted N influenced the response of broiler chickens to dietary Glyequi.