Improving Broiler Diet Formulation

Brazilian researchers evaluated the benefits of formulating broiler diets using digestible amino acids and the performance of diets formulated with lower protein levels and supplemented with synthetic amino acids. Two experiments were conducted with Hubbard male broilers from three to six weeks of age. In experiment 1, a corn-soybean meal diet containing 20 percent protein was formulated and the second experiment contained corn, soybean meal, wheat bran, feather meal and meat meal. In both experiments, body weight gain and economic evaluations were better for boilers fed the diets formulated using digestible amino acids. Carcass yields and composition were not significant affected by diet formulation procedures. Birds fed diets based on digestible amino acids had improved feed efficiency compared to those fed diets formulated using total amino acids. Reducing the protein content of the diets from 20 to 18.2 percent did not affect performance, however, the lower protein-fed birds had fatter carcasses, lower percentage of breast meat and lower economic return. These studies support the formulation of broiler diets using digestible amino acids and alert the nutritionist to possible concerns when diets are formulated with low protein levels and using synthetic amino acids to balance the broiler’s amino acid needs.

Dari, R.L. and co-workers. 2005. Use of digestible amino acids and the concept of idea protein in feed formulation for boilers. J. Applied Poultry Res. 14(2): 195-203.