Whole Wheat Protein as an Amino Acid Source for Chicks

Abstract

ALTHOUGH a quarter or more of the total protein of a chick mash is usually supplied by the cereal grains and their by-products, comparatively little is known regarding the amounts of essential amino acids which these grains furnish to the diet. Corn gluten meal, in which most of the non-bran proteins of corn are concentrated, has been studied as an amino acid source for chicks (Grau, 1946).Since wheat protein concentrates, such as commercial gluten, contain only a comparatively small fraction of the total proteins contained in wheat, a wheat product was prepared which included as much of the total wheat protein as possible. This concentrate was then fed to chicks in a diet in which all the protein of a 20 percent protein diet was provided by wheat.METHODSThe wheat protein concentrate was obtained by forming a dough from wheat which had been finely ground in a buhr .