Influence of Methionine and Other Dietary Additions on the Performance of Chicks Fed Bird Resistant Sorghum Grain Diets

Abstract

Studies were conducted on the performance of chicks fed diets containing the bird resistant sorghums BR64 and IS8260 as compared to chicks fed diets containing the non-resistant sorghums RS610 and RS671 and to observe the effects on chick performance and leg scores of various dietary supplements. Feeding bird resistant sorghum grains BR64 and IS8260 resulted in significantly poorer growth and feed efficiency as compared to that noted when non-resistant sorghum grains RS610 and RS671 were fed. Supplementation of bird resistant sorghums BR64 and IS8260 with methionine resulted in a marked improvement in chick growth and feed efficiency to levels comparable to those noted with the non-resistant sorghums. Supplementation of the bird resistant sorghums with choline did not result in an improvement in chick growth or feed efficiency. Methionine supplementation did not overcome the growth depressing effects noted when 1.0% commercial tannic acid was added to the sorghum RS671 diet. Additions of 1.0% polyvinylpyrrolidone overcame the depressing effects of commercial tannic acid additions to sorghum RS671 diets as well as the tannin provided by the bird resistant sorghum BR64.An increased incidence and severity of a leg abnormality was noted in the more rapidly growing chicks fed the bird resistant sorghum BR64 and IS8260 diets supplemented with methionine. Supplementation of the non-resistant sorghum diets with methionine did not result in an increased incidence or severity of the leg abnormality. Dietary supplementations of lysine, carnitine or a mineral mix containing calcium, manganese and zinc failed to alleviate the problem.