Growth response of chicks following addition to the diet of various sources of nitrogen.

Abstract

Synopsis Two experiments involving a total of 320 day‐old Chunky P male chicks were conducted. In the first experiment chicks were divided into 6 groups and given one of the following diets ad libitum for 6 weeks: A, with determined essential amino acids at minimal required levels; B, with published values for essential amino acids at minimal required levels; C, conventional broiler diet; D, A+1.5 per cent diammonium phosphate (DAP); E, A+3.0 per cent DAP; and F, A+4/4 per cent DAP. Adding 1.5 per cent DAP gave a significant increase in live‐weight at 4 weeks, but adding 3.0 or 4.4 per cent DAP depressed weight significantly at 4 or 6 weeks. Weights of birds receiving diet B were significantly lower than those of birds receiving diets A or C. In the second experiment chicks were divided into 5 groups and given one of the following diets ad libitum for 4 weeks: GA (similar to A) or GA supplemented with the equivalent of 2 per cent crude protein in several forms. In HM the form was herring meal and in GG, D...