Effect of different levels of Amino acids in low protein diets on egg production, anti-oxidant response and immune parameters in Dahlem Red Layers

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken (June 2014 to September 2014 ) to determine the effects of feeding low protein (16%) diets containing varied levels of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met) and threonine (Thr) on performance, anti-oxidant response and immune parameters in Dahlem Red (DR) chickens. A total of 200 DR layers (25 weeks) were distributed into 5 groups having 8 replicates with 5 birds in each replicate. Five experimental diets were formulated i.e., basal diet with Lys 0.63%, Met 0.28% and Thr 0.43% (Diet I), Lys 0.68%, Met 0.30% and Thr 0.46% (Diet II), Lys 0.73%, Met 0.32% and Thr 0.50% (Diet III), Lys 0.78%, Met 0.34% and Thr 0.53% (Diet IV), and Lys 0.83%, Met 0.37% and Thr 0.56% (Diet V). The feed intake during 29-32 weeks was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in the group fed Diet III compared to the group fed Diet V. The egg production during 33-36 weeks was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher among the groups fed Diets II and III compared to the group fed Diet I. The better (P less than 0.01) feed efficiency was recorded among the groups fed Diet I, II and III compared to those fed Diets IV and V. However, cell mediated immune response, glutathione peroxidise, glutathione reductase activities among the various dietary groups did not differ among the groups. It is concluded that supplementing Lys 0.68%, Met 0.30% and Thr 0.46% to the moderately lower protein based diets is sufficient in achieving the optimal productive performance in Dahlem Red layers.