Total Dietary Protein Derived from Wheat for Rearing Replacement Pullets

Abstract

THE primary function of dietary protein is to supply amino acids in a suitable form for growth and maintenance of body tissue. The ability of protein in a particular feeding stuff to fulfill these functions is a measure of its quality (i.e. content and availability of essential amino acids). It is only in recent years that assessment of the protein moiety of a feeding stuff has become possible, separately from the minerals and vitamins, which are an integral part of natural feeding stuff. Furthermore, due to the increasing knowledge of energy requirements of animals to meet specific environmental or productive needs, it is now feasible to relate protein requirements to the physiological status of the animal.Traditionally the protein supplied by grain is supplemented with high protein animal and/or vegetable concentrate to provide a balanced amino acid mixture for chicks and laying birds. However, the availability of feed grade amino…