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The Effect of Methionine Deficiency on Body Weight, Food and Energy Utilization in the Chick
1184
T. M. HUSTON
Huston, T. M., and J. L. Carmon, 1958. Influence of high environmental temperature on fertility and hatchability of eggs of domestic fowl. Phy. Zool. 31: 232-235. Huston, T. M., and R. S. Wheeler, 1949. Effect of synthetic thyroprotein on seasonal variation in volume and concentration of cock semen. Poultry Sci. 28: 262-269. Jones, J. E., and H. R. Wilson, 1967. Use of an electronic counter for sperm concentration determination in chicken semen. Poultry Sci. 46: 532-533. Kamar, G. A. R., and A. L. Badreldin, 1959. Seasonal variations in semen characteristics of adult Fayomi cocks. Poultry Sci. 38: 301-315. Kato, M., and T. Konishi, 1968. The effect of light and temperature on the testicular growth of the Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 47: 1052-1056. Lamoreaux, W. F., 1943. Effect of differences of light and temperature upon the size of comb of White Leghorns. Endocrinol. 32: 497-504. Ota, H., E. H. McNally and W. O. Wilson, 1955. Respiration calorimeter studies on White Leghorn hens in individual cages. Poultry Sci. 34: 1214.
The Effect of Methionine Deficiency on Body Weight, Food and Energy Utilization in the Chick STEVAN S. SEKIZ, 1 MILTON L . SCOTT AND MALDEN C . N E S H E I M 2
Department of Poultry Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 14853 (Received for publication October 31, 1974)
ABSTRACT The effect of dietary methionine deficiency was studied in broiler chicks. Graded levels of methionine: 0.25, 0.32, 0.39 and 0.46%, in semipurified, soybean meal-corn starch diets were used as treatments. Food intake, body weights and body components were determined. Results show that a moderate methionine deficiency (0.32 and 0.39%) had no effect on growth and energy metabolism expressed as metabolizable energy, productive energy, heat production and tissue gains. Increased food intake in these two groups was reflected not as increased weight gain, but as greater quantities of tissue fat. The experimental group with severe methionine deficiency (0.25%) showed depressed body weight gain, food intake and efficiency of food utilization, with some increase in heat production. Therefore, in general, two types of nutritional responses occurred in broilers, based upon the severity of the methionine deficiency. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1184-1188, 1975
INTRODUCTION
I
T is well known that the methionine requirement of chicks is influenced by various factors. Nelson et al. (1960) found 1. Present address: Livestock Research Institute, 21001 Novi Sad, P.O. Box 82, Jugoslavia. 2. Present address: Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University.
that the methionine needs of young chicks can be affected by the protein and energy levels of the diet. Carew and Hill (1961) studied the effects on energy utilization of food intake and a moderate deficiency of sulfur amino acids in the diet of chicks. Harms and Waldroup (1963) showed that the response to amino acid content in chick diets was dependent upon the level of protein and
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
Poultry Sci. 16: 19-24. Clark, C. E., and K. Sarakoon, 1967. Influence of ambient temperature on reproductive traits of male and female chickens. Poultry Sci. 46: 1093-1098. Engels, W. L., and C. E. Jenner, 1956. The effect of temperature on testicular recrudescence in juncos at different photoperiods. Biol. Bull. 110. Farner, D. S., and L. R. Mewaldt, 1952. The relative roles of photoperiod and temperature in gonadal recrudescence in male Zonotrichai leucophrys gambelli. Anat. Record, 113: 612. Funk, E. M., 1935. Factors influencing hatchability in the domestic fowl. Missouri Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. 341. Harvey, A., 1960. Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. July, 1960. USDA-ARS20-8. Hewang, B. W., 1944. Fertility and hatchability when the environmental temperature of chickens is high. Poultry Sci. 23: 334-339. Hoffman, E., andC. S. Shaffner, 1950. Thyroid weight and function as influenced by environmental temperature. Poultry Sci. 29: 365-376.
METHIONINE DEFICIENCY IN CHICKS
The present experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different degrees of dietary methionine deficiency on growth, body composition and efficiency of food and energy utilization in broiler chicks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were obtained from a commercial source. Two replicate pens of 25 chicks each were assigned to each of four dietary treatments for 8 weeks, housed in electrically-heated battery brooders equipped with raised wire screen floors. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The chicks were group-weighed at weekly intervals and food consumption by each group was determined at the time of weighing. The methionine-deficient, semipurified basal diet used in this experiment is presented in Table 1. The major source of protein was commercial 45% soybean meal, providing
TABLE 1.—Composition of basal diet Ingredients % Corn starch 51.5 Soybean meal (45% crude protein) 40.0 Soybean oil 3.4 Dicalcium phosphate 2.0 Limestone 0.8 Salt, iodized 0.3 Vitamin and mineral premix' 1.0 Crystalline amino acids2 1.0 'Supplies (in 100 g. of diet): vitamin A, 450 I.U.; vitamin D, 450 I.U.; vitamin E, 5 I.U.; thiamin HC1, 1.5 mg.; riboflavin, 1.5 mg.; nicotinic acid, 5 mg.; folic acid, 0.6 mg.; pyridoxine, 0.6 mg.; biotin, 0.06 mg.; vitamin B 12 , 2 (j,g.; choline CI, 200 mg.; d-calcium pantothenate, 2 mg.; menadione sodium bisulfite, 0.15 mg.; antioxidant, 10 mg.; M n S 0 4 H 2 0 , 35 mg.; FeS0 4 -7H 2 0, 50 mg.; MgS04, 300 mg.; K103, 1 mg.; CuS0 4 -5H 2 0, 3 mg.; ZnC0 3 , 15 mg.; CoCl2> 17 mg.; NaMo04 •H 2 0, 0.83 mg.; and Na 2 Se0 4 , 0.2 mg. 2 Adequate to supply requirements at 23% of crude protein in diet. Amino acids added (%): Cystine, 0.077; glycine, 0.215; histidine, 0.020; leucine, 0.250; tyrosine, 0.410; threonine, 0.085; valine, 0.069. 18% protein in the diet. The basal diet was supplemented with crystalline amino acids adequate to supply requirements at 23% protein, and also contained adequate levels of all nutrients known to be required by the chick with the exception of methionine. This diet was estimated to contain 3098 kcal. of metabolizable energy per kilogram, and 0.25% methionine. Four experimental diets were used in this study, as follows: 1 —basal diet; 2—basal diet + 0.07% methionine; 3—basal diet + 0.14% methionine; 4—basal diet + 0.21% methionine. The fourth diet was formulated to contain 0.46% methionine as an adequate level for this type of diet, recommended by Scott et al. (1969). At 4 and 8 weeks of age, 6 birds from each pen (12 from each diet) were sacrificed for analysis of body composition. The chicks were killed by dislocation of the neck to prevent loss of blood, and the carcasses were
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
the season, suggesting that this may vary with different strains of chicks. Summarizing results of previous investigations, Scott et al. (1969) recommended the methionine requirement for best growth and maximum food conversion of a common strain of broiler chicks. Harms and Damron (1969); Fisher and Morris (1970); Roberson et al. (1970) and Hewitt and Lewis (1972a, b) also have studied the needs of the chick for sulfur amino acids. In spite of our knowledge concerning methionine requirements, with the wide use of soybean meal as a major source of protein in animal nutrition, methionine deficiency often occurs. One interesting aspect of the studies with methionine is the observation that a higher level of dietary methionine is required to produce maximum food utilization than is necessary to promote maximum growth. The chicks overeat when fed a diet slightly deficient in methionine, thereby attaining near-maximum growth but bringing about a decrease in food utilization.
1185
1186
S. S. SEKIZ, M. L. SCOTT AND M. C. NESHEIM
RESULTS The results of these investigations are presented only for the 8-week-old chicks. The data obtained for 4-week-old chicks were very similar to those for 8 weeks, indicating the same explanation for the reaction to dietary TABLE 2.—Weight gain, food intake, food conversion and metabolizable energy intake of 8 week old chicks Methinonine diet 0.07% 0.14% 0.21% Weight gain1 (g./8 wks.) 13452 1676 1712 1697 Food intake (g./8 wks.) 30652 3813 3884 3526 Food conversion (food/gain) 2.28 2.28 2.27 2.083 Metabolizable energy intake (Kcal./8 wks.) 94952 11828 12033 109243 'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Highly significant difference (P < 0.01). 'Significant difference (P < 0.05). 2
methionine deficiency by 4 and 8 w e e k old
chicks. The results for weight gain, food intake and food conversion are given in Table 2. Methionine supplementation of the basal diet caused a statistically significant increase (P < 0.001) in weight gain. However, methionine supplementation at levels above 0.32% total methionine did not cause further improvements in body gain. The effect of methionine supplementation on food intake and food utilization contrasted with the effect on weight gain. Chicks receiving the methionine-deficient diets consumed more food than those receiving the methionine-adequate diet. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in food utilization was observed with the deficiency of methionine compared to the diet supplemented with 0.21% methionine. The carcass composition, body tissue and energy gains are presented in Tables 3 and 4. Chicks fed the three methionine-deficient diets showed significantly different carcass composition when compared to that of the group fed an adequate level of methionine. Chicks which received the adequate diet, containing0.46% total methionine, had higher protein and lower fat content in the carcass than did those receiving the methionine-deficient diets. This difference was significant (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the basal diet grew significantly less (P < 0.01) in protein, fat and total energy gain than did chicks on the other diets. Chicks on diets with 0.07% and TABLE 3.—Effect of methionine on carcass composition1 Diet asal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
Moisture Protein 2
Fat 2
%
%
%
67.8
53.9
33.3
67.6
53.6
34.9
67.9
54.2
34.4
69.7
58.9
29.5
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. 2 Data are expressed as percentage of dry matter.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
frozen, ground and dried in the frozen state in a large freeze-drying apparatus. The dried material was sampled and separately analyzed for protein (as N x 6.25), fat (as ether extract), ash, and moisture. Metabolizable energy values were determined according to the method of Hill and Anderson (1958). The diets were formulated with 0.3% chromium oxide. Excreta of 6 week old chicks were collected at 24 hour intervals for 3 days. The maintenance requirements, expressed as heat production and productive energy, were computed by using a method suggested by Kielanowski (1966). Energy gains were computed from fat and protein gains, using a value of 5.56 kcal./g. for body protein and 9.22 kcal./g. for body fat. The food utilization was expressed as gross efficiency and percent utilization of metabolizable energy. Analysis of variance was used to determine statistical significance, using methods of Snedecor (1967).
1187
METHIONINE DEFICIENCY IN CHICKS
TABLE 4.—Effect Treatment
Basal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
of methionine on body tissue and energy gain1
Gain in protein kcal./ g./ chick chick 234.I 2 13022 290.7 1616 1657 298.1 1685 303.0
Gain in fat g./ chick 144.42 189.3 189.3 152.03
kcal./ chick 13322 1745 1745 14013
Total gain kcal./ chick 26342 3361 3402 30863
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Highly significant difference (P < 0.01). Significant difference (P < 0.05). 2
of methionine on metabolizable energy, productive energy, heat production and energy utilization1
Treatment Basal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
Metabolizable energy (a)
Heat production (b)
Productive energy (a-b)
ME utilization 2
kcal./kg.diet 3594 3590 3639 3633
kcal./kg. diet 1689 1601 1619 1599
kcal/kg. diet 1905 1989 2020 2034
27.74 28.42 28.27 28.25
%
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Energy gain/metabolizable energy intake.
2
0.14% of additional methionine deposited more energy (P < 0.05) as body fat gain than did chicks fed the diet supplemented with 0.21% methionine. The data presented in Table 5 show no significant differences in metabolizable energy utilization between the various groups of chicks. However, the chicks receiving the basal methionine-deficientdiet showed higher values of heat production and, therefore, lower productive energy value of the diet. DISCUSSION It has been observed that young chicks respond to a moderate deficiency of methionine by increasing food intake, causing a decrease in the efficiency of food conversion compared to body weight gain (Carew and Hill, 1961). Possible explanations for the fate of extra food and energy ingested are given as follows: (1) decreased digestibility; (2) decreased net energy yield of the diet; (3)
increased heat production; (4) greater storage of energy in the form of adipose tissue. In contrast, Baldini (1961) found that although methionine deficiency decreased body weight gain and also decreased the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy as a result of increased heat production, it caused a decrease, rather than an increase, in energy deposition as fat. Baldini used a more severe methionine deficiency than that of Carew and Hill. The degree of deficiency may be critical in determining the bird's response to graded levels of methionine. Our results show that chicks receiving a diet slightly deficient in methionine consume more feed than those fed an adequate diet but do not exhibit any additional body weight gain. These findings are in agreement with those of Carew and Hill (1961). It appears likely that growing chicks consume food in an effort to meet an inner need for the energy required for growth of lean body tissue. When
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TABLE 5.—Effect
1188
S. S. SEKIZ, M. L. SCOTT AND M. C. NESHEIM
In spite of a decrease of food utilization, chicks fed the diets with moderate deficiency in methionine had the same efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy, heat production and productive energy compared with those fed the diet adequate in methionine. Excess food consumed by methionine deficient chicks was used to increase body fat deposition and consequently total energy gain. Thus it appears that the increased energy consumed by the chicks on marginal methionine diets was metabolized with normal efficiency, without improving the weight gain, but with an increased deposition of body fat. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their gratitude to Mr. Harlan W. Hochstetler, Mr. Paul A. Mullenhoff and Dr. Wayne J. Kuenzel for their assistance, and IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board, New York) for their financial support.
SEPTEMBER 5-11, 1976.
FIFTH EURC
REFERENCES Baldini, J. T., 1961. The effect of dietary deficiency on the energy metabolism of the chick. Poultry Sci. 40: 1177-1183. Carew, L. B., Jr., and F. W. Hill, 1961. Effect of methionine deficiency on the utilization of energy by the chick. J. Nutr. 74: 185-190. Fisher, C , and T. R. Morris, 1970. The determination of the methionine requirements of laying pullets by a diet dilution technique. Br. Poultry Sci. 11: 67-82. Harms, R. H., and B. L. Damron, 1969. Protein and sulfur amino acid requirement of the laying hen as influenced by dietary formulation. Poultry Sci. 48: 144-149. Harms, R. H., and P. W. Waldroup, 1963. Methionine hydroxy analogue and lysine supplementation of low-protein laying diets. Br. Poultry Sci. 4: 267-273. Hewitt, D., and D. Lewis, 1972a. The amino acid requirements of the growing chick. 1. Determination of amino acid requirements. Br. Poultry Sci. 13: 449-463. Hewitt, D., and D. Lewis, 1972b. The amino acid requirements of the growing chick. 2. Growth and body composition of chicks fed on diets in which the proportions of amino acids are well balanced. Br. Poultry Sci. 13: 465-474. Hill, F. W., and D. L. Anderson, 1958. Comparison of metabolizable energy and productive energy determinations with growing chicks. J. Nutr. 64: 587603. Kielanowski, T., 1966. Estimates of the energy cost of protein deposition of growing animals. 3rd Symposium on Energy Metabolism, London. Nelson, T. S., R. J. Young, R. B. Bradfield, J. B. Anderson, L. C. Norris, F. W. Hill and M. L. Scott, 1960. Studies on the sulfur amino acid requirements of the chick. Poultry Sci. 39: 308-314. Roberson, R. H., V. Trujillo and D. W. Francis, 1970. The effect of methionine, thiouracil, dienestrol diacetate and thyroprotein on the development and prevention of fatty liver in pullets. Poultry Sci. 49: 1431. Scott, M. L., M. C. Nesheim and R. J. Young, 1969. Nutrition of the Chicken. M. L. Scott and Associates, Ithaca, N.Y. Snedecor, G. ,1967. Statistical Methods. (6th Ed.) Iowa State University Press, Ames.
POULTRY CONFERENCE, MALTA
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2, 1975. 38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION, CANADIAN HATCHERY FEDERATION, CALGARY INN, CALGARY
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methionine is deficient, growth is reduced, so the chicks overconsume the imbalanced diet, and the excess energy is converted to fat. However, in so doing the total methionine intake is increased, thus allowing for normal weight gain, but at a reduced efficiency of feed utilization. However, severe methionine deficiency represented by the 0.25% dietary level in this study markedly reduced body weight and total energy gain, food intake and utilization. Under such conditions, heat production was increased, resulting in decrease in productive energy value of the diet. This agrees with results of Baldini (1961) indicating different reactions of chicks on severe and slightly deficient levels of methionine in the diet.
T. M. HUSTON
Huston, T. M., and J. L. Carmon, 1958. Influence of high environmental temperature on fertility and hatchability of eggs of domestic fowl. Phy. Zool. 31: 232-235. Huston, T. M., and R. S. Wheeler, 1949. Effect of synthetic thyroprotein on seasonal variation in volume and concentration of cock semen. Poultry Sci. 28: 262-269. Jones, J. E., and H. R. Wilson, 1967. Use of an electronic counter for sperm concentration determination in chicken semen. Poultry Sci. 46: 532-533. Kamar, G. A. R., and A. L. Badreldin, 1959. Seasonal variations in semen characteristics of adult Fayomi cocks. Poultry Sci. 38: 301-315. Kato, M., and T. Konishi, 1968. The effect of light and temperature on the testicular growth of the Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 47: 1052-1056. Lamoreaux, W. F., 1943. Effect of differences of light and temperature upon the size of comb of White Leghorns. Endocrinol. 32: 497-504. Ota, H., E. H. McNally and W. O. Wilson, 1955. Respiration calorimeter studies on White Leghorn hens in individual cages. Poultry Sci. 34: 1214.
The Effect of Methionine Deficiency on Body Weight, Food and Energy Utilization in the Chick STEVAN S. SEKIZ, 1 MILTON L . SCOTT AND MALDEN C . N E S H E I M 2
Department of Poultry Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 14853 (Received for publication October 31, 1974)
ABSTRACT The effect of dietary methionine deficiency was studied in broiler chicks. Graded levels of methionine: 0.25, 0.32, 0.39 and 0.46%, in semipurified, soybean meal-corn starch diets were used as treatments. Food intake, body weights and body components were determined. Results show that a moderate methionine deficiency (0.32 and 0.39%) had no effect on growth and energy metabolism expressed as metabolizable energy, productive energy, heat production and tissue gains. Increased food intake in these two groups was reflected not as increased weight gain, but as greater quantities of tissue fat. The experimental group with severe methionine deficiency (0.25%) showed depressed body weight gain, food intake and efficiency of food utilization, with some increase in heat production. Therefore, in general, two types of nutritional responses occurred in broilers, based upon the severity of the methionine deficiency. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1184-1188, 1975
INTRODUCTION
I
T is well known that the methionine requirement of chicks is influenced by various factors. Nelson et al. (1960) found 1. Present address: Livestock Research Institute, 21001 Novi Sad, P.O. Box 82, Jugoslavia. 2. Present address: Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University.
that the methionine needs of young chicks can be affected by the protein and energy levels of the diet. Carew and Hill (1961) studied the effects on energy utilization of food intake and a moderate deficiency of sulfur amino acids in the diet of chicks. Harms and Waldroup (1963) showed that the response to amino acid content in chick diets was dependent upon the level of protein and
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
Poultry Sci. 16: 19-24. Clark, C. E., and K. Sarakoon, 1967. Influence of ambient temperature on reproductive traits of male and female chickens. Poultry Sci. 46: 1093-1098. Engels, W. L., and C. E. Jenner, 1956. The effect of temperature on testicular recrudescence in juncos at different photoperiods. Biol. Bull. 110. Farner, D. S., and L. R. Mewaldt, 1952. The relative roles of photoperiod and temperature in gonadal recrudescence in male Zonotrichai leucophrys gambelli. Anat. Record, 113: 612. Funk, E. M., 1935. Factors influencing hatchability in the domestic fowl. Missouri Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. 341. Harvey, A., 1960. Least-squares analysis of data with unequal subclass numbers. July, 1960. USDA-ARS20-8. Hewang, B. W., 1944. Fertility and hatchability when the environmental temperature of chickens is high. Poultry Sci. 23: 334-339. Hoffman, E., andC. S. Shaffner, 1950. Thyroid weight and function as influenced by environmental temperature. Poultry Sci. 29: 365-376.
METHIONINE DEFICIENCY IN CHICKS
The present experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different degrees of dietary methionine deficiency on growth, body composition and efficiency of food and energy utilization in broiler chicks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb) were obtained from a commercial source. Two replicate pens of 25 chicks each were assigned to each of four dietary treatments for 8 weeks, housed in electrically-heated battery brooders equipped with raised wire screen floors. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The chicks were group-weighed at weekly intervals and food consumption by each group was determined at the time of weighing. The methionine-deficient, semipurified basal diet used in this experiment is presented in Table 1. The major source of protein was commercial 45% soybean meal, providing
TABLE 1.—Composition of basal diet Ingredients % Corn starch 51.5 Soybean meal (45% crude protein) 40.0 Soybean oil 3.4 Dicalcium phosphate 2.0 Limestone 0.8 Salt, iodized 0.3 Vitamin and mineral premix' 1.0 Crystalline amino acids2 1.0 'Supplies (in 100 g. of diet): vitamin A, 450 I.U.; vitamin D, 450 I.U.; vitamin E, 5 I.U.; thiamin HC1, 1.5 mg.; riboflavin, 1.5 mg.; nicotinic acid, 5 mg.; folic acid, 0.6 mg.; pyridoxine, 0.6 mg.; biotin, 0.06 mg.; vitamin B 12 , 2 (j,g.; choline CI, 200 mg.; d-calcium pantothenate, 2 mg.; menadione sodium bisulfite, 0.15 mg.; antioxidant, 10 mg.; M n S 0 4 H 2 0 , 35 mg.; FeS0 4 -7H 2 0, 50 mg.; MgS04, 300 mg.; K103, 1 mg.; CuS0 4 -5H 2 0, 3 mg.; ZnC0 3 , 15 mg.; CoCl2> 17 mg.; NaMo04 •H 2 0, 0.83 mg.; and Na 2 Se0 4 , 0.2 mg. 2 Adequate to supply requirements at 23% of crude protein in diet. Amino acids added (%): Cystine, 0.077; glycine, 0.215; histidine, 0.020; leucine, 0.250; tyrosine, 0.410; threonine, 0.085; valine, 0.069. 18% protein in the diet. The basal diet was supplemented with crystalline amino acids adequate to supply requirements at 23% protein, and also contained adequate levels of all nutrients known to be required by the chick with the exception of methionine. This diet was estimated to contain 3098 kcal. of metabolizable energy per kilogram, and 0.25% methionine. Four experimental diets were used in this study, as follows: 1 —basal diet; 2—basal diet + 0.07% methionine; 3—basal diet + 0.14% methionine; 4—basal diet + 0.21% methionine. The fourth diet was formulated to contain 0.46% methionine as an adequate level for this type of diet, recommended by Scott et al. (1969). At 4 and 8 weeks of age, 6 birds from each pen (12 from each diet) were sacrificed for analysis of body composition. The chicks were killed by dislocation of the neck to prevent loss of blood, and the carcasses were
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
the season, suggesting that this may vary with different strains of chicks. Summarizing results of previous investigations, Scott et al. (1969) recommended the methionine requirement for best growth and maximum food conversion of a common strain of broiler chicks. Harms and Damron (1969); Fisher and Morris (1970); Roberson et al. (1970) and Hewitt and Lewis (1972a, b) also have studied the needs of the chick for sulfur amino acids. In spite of our knowledge concerning methionine requirements, with the wide use of soybean meal as a major source of protein in animal nutrition, methionine deficiency often occurs. One interesting aspect of the studies with methionine is the observation that a higher level of dietary methionine is required to produce maximum food utilization than is necessary to promote maximum growth. The chicks overeat when fed a diet slightly deficient in methionine, thereby attaining near-maximum growth but bringing about a decrease in food utilization.
1185
1186
S. S. SEKIZ, M. L. SCOTT AND M. C. NESHEIM
RESULTS The results of these investigations are presented only for the 8-week-old chicks. The data obtained for 4-week-old chicks were very similar to those for 8 weeks, indicating the same explanation for the reaction to dietary TABLE 2.—Weight gain, food intake, food conversion and metabolizable energy intake of 8 week old chicks Methinonine diet 0.07% 0.14% 0.21% Weight gain1 (g./8 wks.) 13452 1676 1712 1697 Food intake (g./8 wks.) 30652 3813 3884 3526 Food conversion (food/gain) 2.28 2.28 2.27 2.083 Metabolizable energy intake (Kcal./8 wks.) 94952 11828 12033 109243 'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Highly significant difference (P < 0.01). 'Significant difference (P < 0.05). 2
methionine deficiency by 4 and 8 w e e k old
chicks. The results for weight gain, food intake and food conversion are given in Table 2. Methionine supplementation of the basal diet caused a statistically significant increase (P < 0.001) in weight gain. However, methionine supplementation at levels above 0.32% total methionine did not cause further improvements in body gain. The effect of methionine supplementation on food intake and food utilization contrasted with the effect on weight gain. Chicks receiving the methionine-deficient diets consumed more food than those receiving the methionine-adequate diet. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in food utilization was observed with the deficiency of methionine compared to the diet supplemented with 0.21% methionine. The carcass composition, body tissue and energy gains are presented in Tables 3 and 4. Chicks fed the three methionine-deficient diets showed significantly different carcass composition when compared to that of the group fed an adequate level of methionine. Chicks which received the adequate diet, containing0.46% total methionine, had higher protein and lower fat content in the carcass than did those receiving the methionine-deficient diets. This difference was significant (P < 0.05). Chicks fed the basal diet grew significantly less (P < 0.01) in protein, fat and total energy gain than did chicks on the other diets. Chicks on diets with 0.07% and TABLE 3.—Effect of methionine on carcass composition1 Diet asal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
Moisture Protein 2
Fat 2
%
%
%
67.8
53.9
33.3
67.6
53.6
34.9
67.9
54.2
34.4
69.7
58.9
29.5
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. 2 Data are expressed as percentage of dry matter.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Michigan State University on February 28, 2015
frozen, ground and dried in the frozen state in a large freeze-drying apparatus. The dried material was sampled and separately analyzed for protein (as N x 6.25), fat (as ether extract), ash, and moisture. Metabolizable energy values were determined according to the method of Hill and Anderson (1958). The diets were formulated with 0.3% chromium oxide. Excreta of 6 week old chicks were collected at 24 hour intervals for 3 days. The maintenance requirements, expressed as heat production and productive energy, were computed by using a method suggested by Kielanowski (1966). Energy gains were computed from fat and protein gains, using a value of 5.56 kcal./g. for body protein and 9.22 kcal./g. for body fat. The food utilization was expressed as gross efficiency and percent utilization of metabolizable energy. Analysis of variance was used to determine statistical significance, using methods of Snedecor (1967).
1187
METHIONINE DEFICIENCY IN CHICKS
TABLE 4.—Effect Treatment
Basal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
of methionine on body tissue and energy gain1
Gain in protein kcal./ g./ chick chick 234.I 2 13022 290.7 1616 1657 298.1 1685 303.0
Gain in fat g./ chick 144.42 189.3 189.3 152.03
kcal./ chick 13322 1745 1745 14013
Total gain kcal./ chick 26342 3361 3402 30863
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Highly significant difference (P < 0.01). Significant difference (P < 0.05). 2
of methionine on metabolizable energy, productive energy, heat production and energy utilization1
Treatment Basal + 0.07% methionine + 0.14% methionine + 0.21% methionine
Metabolizable energy (a)
Heat production (b)
Productive energy (a-b)
ME utilization 2
kcal./kg.diet 3594 3590 3639 3633
kcal./kg. diet 1689 1601 1619 1599
kcal/kg. diet 1905 1989 2020 2034
27.74 28.42 28.27 28.25
%
'Mean values of two replicates per treatment. Energy gain/metabolizable energy intake.
2
0.14% of additional methionine deposited more energy (P < 0.05) as body fat gain than did chicks fed the diet supplemented with 0.21% methionine. The data presented in Table 5 show no significant differences in metabolizable energy utilization between the various groups of chicks. However, the chicks receiving the basal methionine-deficientdiet showed higher values of heat production and, therefore, lower productive energy value of the diet. DISCUSSION It has been observed that young chicks respond to a moderate deficiency of methionine by increasing food intake, causing a decrease in the efficiency of food conversion compared to body weight gain (Carew and Hill, 1961). Possible explanations for the fate of extra food and energy ingested are given as follows: (1) decreased digestibility; (2) decreased net energy yield of the diet; (3)
increased heat production; (4) greater storage of energy in the form of adipose tissue. In contrast, Baldini (1961) found that although methionine deficiency decreased body weight gain and also decreased the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy as a result of increased heat production, it caused a decrease, rather than an increase, in energy deposition as fat. Baldini used a more severe methionine deficiency than that of Carew and Hill. The degree of deficiency may be critical in determining the bird's response to graded levels of methionine. Our results show that chicks receiving a diet slightly deficient in methionine consume more feed than those fed an adequate diet but do not exhibit any additional body weight gain. These findings are in agreement with those of Carew and Hill (1961). It appears likely that growing chicks consume food in an effort to meet an inner need for the energy required for growth of lean body tissue. When
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TABLE 5.—Effect
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S. S. SEKIZ, M. L. SCOTT AND M. C. NESHEIM
In spite of a decrease of food utilization, chicks fed the diets with moderate deficiency in methionine had the same efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy, heat production and productive energy compared with those fed the diet adequate in methionine. Excess food consumed by methionine deficient chicks was used to increase body fat deposition and consequently total energy gain. Thus it appears that the increased energy consumed by the chicks on marginal methionine diets was metabolized with normal efficiency, without improving the weight gain, but with an increased deposition of body fat. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their gratitude to Mr. Harlan W. Hochstetler, Mr. Paul A. Mullenhoff and Dr. Wayne J. Kuenzel for their assistance, and IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board, New York) for their financial support.
SEPTEMBER 5-11, 1976.
FIFTH EURC
REFERENCES Baldini, J. T., 1961. The effect of dietary deficiency on the energy metabolism of the chick. Poultry Sci. 40: 1177-1183. Carew, L. B., Jr., and F. W. Hill, 1961. Effect of methionine deficiency on the utilization of energy by the chick. J. Nutr. 74: 185-190. Fisher, C , and T. R. Morris, 1970. The determination of the methionine requirements of laying pullets by a diet dilution technique. Br. Poultry Sci. 11: 67-82. Harms, R. H., and B. L. Damron, 1969. Protein and sulfur amino acid requirement of the laying hen as influenced by dietary formulation. Poultry Sci. 48: 144-149. Harms, R. H., and P. W. Waldroup, 1963. Methionine hydroxy analogue and lysine supplementation of low-protein laying diets. Br. Poultry Sci. 4: 267-273. Hewitt, D., and D. Lewis, 1972a. The amino acid requirements of the growing chick. 1. Determination of amino acid requirements. Br. Poultry Sci. 13: 449-463. Hewitt, D., and D. Lewis, 1972b. The amino acid requirements of the growing chick. 2. Growth and body composition of chicks fed on diets in which the proportions of amino acids are well balanced. Br. Poultry Sci. 13: 465-474. Hill, F. W., and D. L. Anderson, 1958. Comparison of metabolizable energy and productive energy determinations with growing chicks. J. Nutr. 64: 587603. Kielanowski, T., 1966. Estimates of the energy cost of protein deposition of growing animals. 3rd Symposium on Energy Metabolism, London. Nelson, T. S., R. J. Young, R. B. Bradfield, J. B. Anderson, L. C. Norris, F. W. Hill and M. L. Scott, 1960. Studies on the sulfur amino acid requirements of the chick. Poultry Sci. 39: 308-314. Roberson, R. H., V. Trujillo and D. W. Francis, 1970. The effect of methionine, thiouracil, dienestrol diacetate and thyroprotein on the development and prevention of fatty liver in pullets. Poultry Sci. 49: 1431. Scott, M. L., M. C. Nesheim and R. J. Young, 1969. Nutrition of the Chicken. M. L. Scott and Associates, Ithaca, N.Y. Snedecor, G. ,1967. Statistical Methods. (6th Ed.) Iowa State University Press, Ames.
POULTRY CONFERENCE, MALTA
SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2, 1975. 38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION, CANADIAN HATCHERY FEDERATION, CALGARY INN, CALGARY
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methionine is deficient, growth is reduced, so the chicks overconsume the imbalanced diet, and the excess energy is converted to fat. However, in so doing the total methionine intake is increased, thus allowing for normal weight gain, but at a reduced efficiency of feed utilization. However, severe methionine deficiency represented by the 0.25% dietary level in this study markedly reduced body weight and total energy gain, food intake and utilization. Under such conditions, heat production was increased, resulting in decrease in productive energy value of the diet. This agrees with results of Baldini (1961) indicating different reactions of chicks on severe and slightly deficient levels of methionine in the diet.