Abstract
A multichamber indirect calorimeter was constructed and used to measure energy utilization of laying hens. Four basic diets were formulated by a least cost linear program for use in this study. The first diet was formulated to meet the 1984 National Research Council (NRC) recommendations and contained by analysis 14.5% protein, .58% TSAA, and .68% lysine (designated NRC). The second diet (NRCAA) was formulated to the same amino acid specifications without a protein restriction and contained 12.9% protein, .57% TSAA, and .69% lysine. Another pair of diets was formulated with higher protein (HP) and amino acid restrictions. The HP diet contained 16% protein, .67% TSAA, and .85% lysine; whereas the HPAA diet had 14% protein, .68% TSAA, and .86% lysine. Four additional diets were formulated with the inclusion of 3% animal fat, using the same protein and amino acid restrictions as were used to formulate the first four diets. Animal fat supplementation significantly (P less than .05) improved energy balance (retention) of birds fed all formulations compared with the diets without added fat. Formulation of a diet based on amino acid restrictions significantly increased net energetic efficiency of birds fed amino acid levels higher than those recommended by the NRC (79.2 for HPAA vs. 62.1% for HP), but did not significantly affect net efficiency of birds fed the lower amino acid levels (NRC and NRCAA).
Published Version
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