Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Broilers Fed Low-protein Diets Supplemented with Various Ratios of Threonine to Lysine |
L. M. Gong, C. H. Lai, S. Y. Qiao, Defa Li, Y. X. Ma, Y. L. Liu |
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Abstract |
This study was conducted to evaluate performance, breast (thigh) muscle yield, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical parameters of broilers fed low-protein diets supplemented with various threonine to lysine ratios (Thr/Lys). Three hundred and twenty four day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment and nine broilers per replicate. Six treatments included one control diet [formulated according to NRC (1994)], and five experimental diets (treatments 1-5). In treatments 1-5, the crude protein level was 2% lower than that of the NRC control diet. The Thr/Lys in treatments 1-5 was 0.65, 0.70, 0.75, 0.80 and 0.85 during the starter and grower phases and 0.70, 0.75, 0.80, 0.85 and 0.90 during the finisher phase with other nutrient levels kept consistent. The results showed that: (1) With increasing Thr/Lys, ADG of treatments 1, 3 and 4 were lower (p<0.05) than those of the NRC control diet during the starter phase; ADG of treatments 1-5 were lower (p<0.05) than those of the NRC control during the grower phase, and ADG of treatment 1 was lower (p<0.05) than that of the NRC control during the finisher phase. Average daily feed intake in treatments 1 and 4 were lower (p<0.05) than that of broilers on the NRC control diet during the grower phase. Feed/gain (F/G) of the NRC control diet was lowest (p<0.05) during the starter phase. F/G in treatments 2 and 5 were higher (p<0.05) than that of NRC during the grower phase. (2) Breast muscle proportion on d 21 increased linearly (p<0.05) in response to graded levels of Thr/Lys. (3) No differences were detected for dry matter, energy and crude protein digestibility among all seven treatments. (4) On d 21, serum triglyceride of broilers on dietary treatments 3 and 5 was higher (p<0.05) than that of broilers in control. The results indicate that the low-protein diets supplemented with an appropriate Thr/Lys could not support the same performance that was achieved by the broilers fed the NRC control diet. |
Keywords:
Ratio of Threonine to Lysine; Broilers; Low-protein Diets |
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