Change in Growth Performance and Liver Function Enzymes of Broiler Chickens Challenged with Infectious Bursal Disease Virus to Dietary Supplementation of Methionine and Threonine

Maroufyan Maroufyan

doi:10.3844/ajavsp.2010.20.26

Abstract

Problem statement: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of methionine and threonine supplementations higher than the NRC recommendation on growth performance, liver function enzymes, blood parameters and immune tissues of broiler chickens challenged with infectious bursal disease. Approach: A total of 450 day-old male broiler chicks were as signed to nine groups. Chickens were fed by three graded levels of DL-methionine (NRC (M1), 2 times NRC (M2) and 3 times NRC (M3)) and three graded levels of L-threonine (NRC (T1), 2 times NRC (T2) and 3 times NRC (T3)) from day 1-42 of age. On day 28, all bird s were challenged with a commercial live-IBDV vaccine. Results: Body Weight Gain (BWG) and Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were significantly influenced by the dietary treatm ents in starter phase and either methionine or threonine at the highest levels significantly decre ased BWG, FI and FCR in broiler chickens. A similar trend by methionine and threonine at the highest le vels was noted on BWG and FI in grower phase. The highest level of threonine significantly increa sed spleen weight on day 28 (pre-challenge) and 14 days post challenge. At 14 days after challenge, di etary supplementation of methionine at NRC recommended level (M1) significantly increased the serum concentrations of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH). In the T3 group, the serum concentrations of AST and LDH were significantly decreased, whereas the serum uric acid concentration was significantly increased . Conclusion/Recommendations: In conclusion, our data suggest that the methionin e and threonine requirement of male broiler chicks is higher for growth performance than was suggested by the last NRC committee and liver function enzymes results showed that methionine and threonine supplementation three times higher than NRC requirements in broiler chickens has not toxic pote ntial.

Highlights

Methionine and threonine are regarded as to be the recommendation are usually based on the needs of healthy birds under ideal condition, but birds in commercial systems are normally exposed to different first and third limiting amino acids in broilers fed kinds of stresses, diseases and the combination of practical corn-soybean meal diets
Body Weight Gain (BWG), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were significantly influenced by the dietary treatments in starter phase (0-21) and either methionine or threonine at the highest levels significantly decreased BWG, FI and FCR in broiler chickens
A similar trend by methionine and threonine at the highest levels was noted on BWG and FI in grower phase (22-42)

Summary

Introduction

Methionine and threonine are regarded as to be the recommendation are usually based on the needs of healthy birds under ideal condition, but birds in commercial systems are normally exposed to different first and third limiting amino acids in broilers fed kinds of stresses, diseases and the combination of practical corn-soybean meal diets Optimal levels of these amino acids (IBD), known as Gumboro Disease, is one of the are needed to support optimum growth and health of most important poultry diseases in the last 30 years.

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Conclusion