Modelling Broiler Requirements for Lysine and Arginine

Simple Summary: Achieving a close balance between amino acids provided by feeds and the estimated requirements of broilers is crucial to increase the economic and environmental efficiency in intensive poultry rearing. The utilization of factorial models to predict amino acid requirements requires previous knowledge of the efficiency with which such amino acids are utilized for growth. This study aimed to investigate broiler responses to lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) and, based on such responses, to estimate the efficiency with which birds utilize both amino acids for growth. Once estimated, the efficiency values were used to develop two factorial models to predict broiler intakes of Lys and Arg. Overall, the utilization efficiencies were calculated as 0.79 and 0.62 for digestible lysine and arginine intake, respectively. Based on such efficiencies, the male and female broiler requirements for digestible lysine and arginine to deposit 1 g of body protein were 94.9 and 92.9 mg, respectively. Six assays were conducted to investigate male and female broiler responses to standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg). Response data were modeled to estimate the efficiency of utilization (k) of both amino acids and adjust factorial models to predict bird intake for SID Lys and SID Arg. In each assay, 1280 Cobb 500(R) broilers (640 male and 640 female) were randomly assigned to one of sixteen dietary treatments with four replicates of 20 birds. Dietary treatments consisted of crescent levels of SID Lys or SID Arg based on the dilution technique. The values of k determined for each phase (1- to 14-, 15- to 28-, and 29- to 42-d-old) and sex were contrasted using linear regression with groups (sex and phase). The estimated efficiencies were 0.79 for Lys and 0.62 for Arg, which were unaffected by phase or sex. Factorial models based on body weight and weight gain (M1) and on body and feather protein weight and deposition (M2) were applied to estimate the SID Lys and Arg intake for growth. The amino acid intake based on M2 had a lower error of prediction. Broiler chickens require 94.9 and 92.9 mg/d of SID Lys and SID Arg to deposit 1 g of body protein.

Automated summary

Achieving a close balance between amino acids provided by feeds and the estimated requirements of broilers is crucial for economic and environmental efficiency. Utilization efficiencies for lysine and arginine were calculated, and factorial models were developed to predict broiler intakes of these amino acids for growth.