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Experiences with High Protein Diets for Chicks and Poults
Experiences with High Protein Diets for Chicks and Poults MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. R E E D AND JAMES C. FRITZ
The Borden Co., Nutritional Research Lab., Elgin, III. (Received for publication July 7, 1948)
T
EXPERIMENTAL
In the first test, six leading brands of commercial broiler feed were fed to RedRock cross bred chicks in wood floored brooder houses. This test was continued to 14 weeks of age. Later tests were made in screen floored batteries, and the chicks were carried to only 8 or 10 weeks of age. In the chick battery work straight run New Hampshires were used. In the second test a practical type 18 percent protein chick starter was prepared, and a portion of this diet was raised to 30 percent protein by the addition of soybean meal and dried skim milk. A similar study was then made with commercial chick starters. The poults used in these studies were hatched at the laboratory from a moderately broad-breasted strain of bronze turkeys. In the first test, two commercial turkey starters containing 26.4 and 24.7 percent protein, respectively, were studied. For 8 weeks these poults were kept in screen floored batteries, after which they were placed in wood floored colony houses with access to sun porches. When placed in the colony houses they were taken off the starter feeds and both groups were fed a mash and grain combination which provided approximately 17 percent protein. This feeding program was continued to 24 weeks of age and the turkeys were weighed at 4 week intervals. Subsequent turkey growth tests were made in screen floored batteries on diets prepared at the laboratory. Protein levels of approximately 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 69
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HE literature on protein requirements of poultry is so extensive that no attempt will be made to review it in this report. The National Research Council bulletin on Recommended Nutrient Allowances for Poultry (Cravens el al., 1946) suggests that a chick starting diet should contain 20 percent of protein and that a turkey starting diet should contain 24 percent of protein. For most rapid growth of broilers, many authorities have recommended more than 20 percent of protein. Almquist and Asmundson (1944) found that they obtained more rapid growth during the first week when they fed their chicks 30 percent protein diets. The advantage over a 20 percent starter was maintained for 8 weeks. However, there was no difference in the growth rate after the first week. Production of turkey broilers has received some study (Carter, 1946; Thayer and Davis, 1948). Here, too, the use of feeds containing high levels of protein needs investigation. Excessively high protein levels may not be desirable. Titus (1941) found that over the entire growth period of chickens the best efficiency of feed utilization was obtained with 21 percent of protein. Increasing the protein level above 21 percent resulted in rather rapid decrease of feed efficiency. Peck (1948) advises against increasing the protein level to overcome a specific amino acid deficiency because of the resulting decrease in efficiency of utilization.
70
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. REED AND JAMES C. FRITZ TABLE 1.—Tests on commercial broiler feeds FeedB
FeedC
FeedD
FeedE
FeedF
No. chicks* Protein % Fat% Ash% Calcium % Phosphorus % Vitamin D**
70 19.7 4.0 5.3 1.4 0.7 97
70 25.5 5.3 7.4 2.0 1.1 106
70 19.0 3.5 6.8 2.1 0.9 106
70 20.6 4.0 5.3 1.3 0.6 82
70 20.0 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 49
70 20.0 3.8 6.8 1.8 0.9 82
Av. wt. (gms.) 4 wks. 8 wks. 12 wks. 14 wks.
353 887 1,390 1,554
367 882 1,356 1,605
315 817 1,281 1,433
370 892 1,300 1,534
357 872 1,457 1,678
336 814 1,393 1,599
0
8
2
4
1
2
4.26
4.34
4.90
4.37
4.10
4.15
No. with perosis Gms. feed/gm. gain
* Red-Rock cross bred chicks, both sexes. ** A.O.A.C. units vitamin D per 100 grams of feed.
percent were obtained by varying the quantities of corn and one or more protein concentrates. The influence of different protein concentrates was investigated. In the final test, a comparison was made between a high protein, high energy type ration and a more usual 24 percent turkey starter. The use of diets containing high percentages of soybean meal apparently increases the chick's requirement for the "Animal Protein Factor" (Ansbacher, 1948). Since unfavorable results had been obtained with high levels of protein in the usual type turkey starting diets, the inclusion of condensed fish solubles and the inclusion of a combination of fish solubles and whey solubles was tried. In these battery studies with poults, the groups contained an average of 18 birds. Most of the tests were terminated at 8 weeks of age, and the poults were examined at that time for any abnormalities. Records of feed consumption were maintained. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Chicks.—Table 1 shows the results of the chick growth test on six leading brands
of commercial broiler mash. There is very little correlation between the chemical TABLE 2.—Effect of increasing protein content upon chick growth Pen 5286
Pen 5287
Diet 5286 45.5% Ground yellow corn 43.0% Soybean meal. 41.0 Ground wheat 10.0 Dried skim milk 13.5 Wheat bran 10.0 Std. middlings 10.0 Soybean meal 12.0 Meat scrap 5.0 Alfalfa meal 5.0 Calcium carbonate 2.0 Flaydry* 0.5 Ladpro40D** 2.0 Iodizedsalt+Mn 0.5 Protein %
18
30
No. chicks***
28
28
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 38 1 wk. 57 2 wks. 97 3 wks. 148 4 wks. 230 . 5 wks. 322 6 wks. 435 7 wks. 568 8 wks. 668
38 63 95 150 237 333 438 572 686
* Commercial supplement containing whey solubles. ** Commercial supplement containing fish liver and glandular meal. *** New Hampshire chicks, both sexes.
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Feed A
71
EXPERIENCES WITH HIGH PROTEIN DIETS FOR CHICKS ^ND POULTS TABLE 3.—Effect
of adding protein concentrates to a commercial 18 percent chick starter
18% Starter B
18% Starter A
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks. 10 wks. Feed/gain
34 112 248 482 799 1,150
36 115 252 480 804 1,169
35 116 244 474 769 1,112
3.39
35 124 254 510 827 1,118
36 99 209 440 752 1,118
35 122 251 505 804 1,103 3.48
3.80
have diluted some one or more nutrients to critical levels, but there was no evidence that this did occur. The fact that there was a small growth response during the first week or two apparently indicates that protein was the first limiting factor. Poults.—The comparison of the two commercial turkey starters is summarized in Table 4. The higher protein, lower fiber ration gave the faster early growth. However, it should be noted that the percentage difference in growth was greatest during the first 4 weeks, and that this difference was diminishing even before the diets were changed at 8 weeks. At 24 weeks of age the difference was negligible. TABLE 4.—Growth of turkeys on commercial feeds.* Feed No. 1
Feed No. 2
Protein % Fiber %
26.4 5.5
24.7 8.3
No. bronze poults
46
47
Av. wt. in lbs. Init. 4 wks. 8 wks. 12 wks. 16 wks. 20 wks. 24 wks.
0.14 0.83 2.90 5.76 9.49 12.70 14.64
0.14 0.72 2.61 5.38 8.88 12.26 14.58
Ratio 2:1
Lbs. feed/lb. turkey Mortality & culls %
4.58 26.0
1.000 0.867 0.900 0.934 0.936 0.965 0.996
4.55 10.6
* Indicated feeds were fed for the first 8 weeks. Both groups were then carried on a mash and grain mixture which contained about 17 percent protein.
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analyses shown and the growth of the broilers. It is perhaps worth noting that the feed with the lowest protein content gave the slowest growth and the poorest feed efficiency. The feed with the highest protein content gave good growth, but did not prove to be superior to some of the 20 percent protein feeds. Table 2 summarizes the observations on an 18 percent diet prepared at the laboratory and on the diet after it had been fortified with soybean meal and dried skim milk to raise the protein content to about 30 percent. Growth may have been slightly better on the high protein diet during the first week, but there was little difference in results after the first week. Table 3 shows the results of a 10 week test involving two commercial chick starters. Both contained approximately 18 percent of protein. Two pens of New Hampshire chicks were fed each of these feeds. In addition, a portion of feed B was mixed with soybean meal and meat scrap to raise the protein content to 30 percent. This latter diet was then fed to two comparable groups of chicks for two weeks, after which the chicks were continued on the 18 percent feed B. The extra protein apparently did give these chicks a faster start, but this value was lost after the first two weeks. There is the possibility that the addition of the protein concentrates might
30% Starter made by building up Starter B with soybean meal and meat scrap, 1st 2 wks., then changed to B
72
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. REED AND JAMES C. FRITZ
TABLE
5.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of poults.
5517
5518
5519
5520
5521
Protein %
20
24
28
32
36
Basal mixture Corn meal Soybean meal Meat & bone Limestone
31.3 43.2 15.0 7.5 3.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 3 wks. 4 wks. 5 wks. 6 wks. 7 wks.
58 141 213 326 . 477 632 876
60 161 251 380 556 722 978
60 180 283 404 576 763 1103
59 175 266 393 537 685 890
58 161 232 323 407 487 802
Feed/gain
2.47
2.14
2.37
2.43
5.68
31.3 31.3 31.3 31.3 8.7 31.2 19.2 —. 23.0 31.0 38.0 38.0 11.5 15.5 19.0 27.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
A series of growth tests were then run with protein levels adjusted to approximately 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 percent, respectively, by varying the quantities of corn and protein concentrates in the diet. Basal ingredients, common to all diets, included: ground oats 10.0, wheat bran 10.0, alfalfa meal 5.0, Flaydry 3.2, Ladpro 100D 1.6, defluorinated phosphate i.0, and iodized salt with manganese sulfate 0.5. Table 5 shows the results of a test in which the variable protein concentrates were soybean meal and meat and bone scrap. Table 6 shows the results when fish meal was used as the variable protein concentrate. Table 7 shows the results TABLE 6.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of turkey poults Pen No.:
6515
6516 6517 6518
6519
Protein %
19.89 24.09 28.12 31.73 35.84
Basal mixture Corn meal Soybean meal Fish meal
31.3 44.7 20.0 4.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks. Feed/gain
31.3 36.7 20.0 12.0
31.3 28.7 20.0 20.0
31.3 21.7 20.0 27.0
31.3 13.7 20.0 35.0
57 134 274 547 962
57 138 322 666 1161
57 164 393 765 1326
57 57 181 171 364 330 691 590 1181 1037
3.72
3.12
2.85
3.72
3.88
TABLE 7.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of turkey poults.
Pen No.:
6572 6573 6574 6575 6576
Protein %
50.59 24.20 27.96 31.98 35.67
Basal mixture Yellow corn meal Soybean meal Fish meal
31.6
31.6
31.6
31.6
31.6
48.4 5.0 15.0
37.4 16.0 15.0
26.4 27.0 15.0
14.4 39.0 15.0
3.4 SO.O 15.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks.
58 133 361 745 1272
58 148 412 814 1403
58 58 58 156 159 157 426 424 385 877 800 778 1448 1289 1281
Feed/gain
2.69
2.30
2.35
2.46
2.88
In the group (Pen No. 5521) which received 36 percent of protein derived largely from soybean meal and meat scrap, some of the poults showed an abnormal swelling of the feet. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2. Examination revealed a white, cheesy, deposit which presumptive tests indicated to be uric acid. When the poults were removed from the high protein diet at the end of the test period and fed a 20 percent diet, thfr swellings were slowly reduced and the feet finally became normal in appearance. Scott (1948) has reported better than average early growth of poults when he fed either purified diets or high protein, high energy, low fiber diets made from
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Pen No.:
when soybean meal was used as the variable protein concentrate. In all cases the best growth over the entire period was obtained with 28 percent protein. In two of the tests, growth during the first two weeks was better on either 32 or 36 percent of protein, but the advantage was quickly lost as the poults became older. The influence of age of the poults, averaged for the 3 tests, is shown in Figure 1 in which the percent of the weight of the 28 percent protein group is plotted against percent of protein in the diet at ages of 2, 3, 5, and 7 weeks, respectively.
E X P E R I E N C E S WITH H I G H P R O T E I N D I E T S FOR CHICKS AND P O U L T S
73
105 % of wt. of group which reoeived 26% protein 100
95
85
•'75 20
22
24
•
At 2 weeks of age
O
At 3 weeks of age
X
At 5 weeks of age
A
At 7 weeks of age 26 28 30 Peroent protein in diet
32
36
FIG. 1. Influence of age of poults upon protein requirement.
natural ingredients. Table 8 shows a comparison between the results on a diet of this general type (Pen N o . 6556) and a more practical diet (Pen No. 6555). Although the growth obtained was not as good as t h a t reported by Scott (1948), the results did indicate superior results on the high protein, high energy, low fiber diet. The growth of the poults was definitely superior to t h a t obtained with any of the more usual type diets cbntaining similar high levels of protein. I t is not clear from these data whether some limiting factor was more amply supplied to the poults in pen 6556, or whether some growth inhibiting factor present in the usual type ration was eliminated from the low fiber diet. The data show t h a t the poults in pen 6557 grew as well as those in pens 6558
or 6559. This evidence suggests t h a t the poor results obtained with high protein practical type diets was not due to an unusual requirement for the "Animal Protein F a c t o r . " I t should also be noted t h a t no swollen feet or similar abnormal-
FIG. 2. Abnormality of feet of poult from pen 5521.
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90
74
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. R E E D AND JAMES C. FRITZ TABLE 8.—Growth of poults on high protein levels
Pen No.:
6555
6556
6557
6558
6559
Protein %
24.40
34.62
35.17.
35.76
35.38
21.4
21.9 10.0
3.2
•— -— — —
10.0 10.0
—
10.0 10.0
— —
10.0 10.0
—
—
—
Av. wt. at 8 wks. Feed/gain
—
10.0 10.0 10.0 5.0 30.5 5.0
— — — —
4.0 0.1
—
3.0
—
1.0
— —• — 1,422 3.08
35.0 12.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
27.5
27.5
27.5
— — —
— —. —
—. — —•
— — —
— — —
— — —
— —
— — —
—
—
—
1.6 1.6
1,554 2.85
1,190 3.22
1,206 4.00
1,071 3.78
—
5.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 0.1 1.0 1.5 2.0 1.0 0.5
4.8
1.0 0.5
4.8
1.0 0.5 3.2
4.8
1.0 0.5
Commercial supplement containing whey solubles and fish liver and glandular meal.
ities were observed in these 3 groups, in spite of the fact that the diets were verysimilar to those on which the abnormality was observed in an earlier test.
diet did not improve results. A protein level near 35 percent gave good results with a high energy, low fiber diet.
SUMMARY
Almquist, H. J., and V. S. Asmundson, 1944. High protein mashes for broilers. Poultry Sci. 23:67-71. Ansbacher, S., 1948. Chick bioassay of the "Animal Protein" factor. Abstracts of papers, 113th meeting, American Chemical Society, Chicago, 111., 20A-21A. Carter, C. W., 1946. Costs in the production of turkey broilers. Feedstuffs 18 (No. 31): 18-20. Cravens, W. W., H. J. Almquist, L. C. Norris, R. M. Bethke, and H. R. Bird, 1946. Recommended Nutrient Allowances for Poultry. A report by the Sub-committee on Poultry Nutrition, National Research Council. Peck, L., 1948. Searching for new sources of proteins. Feedstuffs 20 (No. 23): 28-30. Scott, M. L., 1948. Nutritional studies with poults. Feedstuffs 20 (No. 12): 32-34. Thayer, R. H., and G. T. Davis, 1948. Use of estrogens in turkey broiler production. Poultry Sci. 27: 176-181. Titus, H. W., 1941. The Scientific Feeding of Chickens. The Interstate, Danville, 111.
REFERENCES
The data suggest that protein levels above 20 percent may give faster early growth of chicks, but that the advantage is largely lost by the time the chicks reach market age. With several practical type diets, the best growth of turkey poults to 7 or 8 weeks of age was obtained with about 28 percent of protein in the diet. Diets with 32 percent of protein gave the fastest growth during the first two weeks, but continuing the poults on protein levels above 28 percent beyond about two weeks was undesirable. In one test a protein level of 36 percent was apparently toxic. Increasing the "Animal Protein Factor" content of the
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Yellow corn meal Rolled oats Ground oats Wheat bran Std. middlings Alfalfa meal Soybean meal Fish meal Meat scrap Casein Gelatin Dried brewers yeast MF-FL Blend* Dry D 2000 Dog fish liver oil Ground limestone Defl. phosphate Iodized s a l t + M n 1:20 liver powder Cond. fish solubles Cond. whey solubles
The Borden Co., Nutritional Research Lab., Elgin, III. (Received for publication July 7, 1948)
T
EXPERIMENTAL
In the first test, six leading brands of commercial broiler feed were fed to RedRock cross bred chicks in wood floored brooder houses. This test was continued to 14 weeks of age. Later tests were made in screen floored batteries, and the chicks were carried to only 8 or 10 weeks of age. In the chick battery work straight run New Hampshires were used. In the second test a practical type 18 percent protein chick starter was prepared, and a portion of this diet was raised to 30 percent protein by the addition of soybean meal and dried skim milk. A similar study was then made with commercial chick starters. The poults used in these studies were hatched at the laboratory from a moderately broad-breasted strain of bronze turkeys. In the first test, two commercial turkey starters containing 26.4 and 24.7 percent protein, respectively, were studied. For 8 weeks these poults were kept in screen floored batteries, after which they were placed in wood floored colony houses with access to sun porches. When placed in the colony houses they were taken off the starter feeds and both groups were fed a mash and grain combination which provided approximately 17 percent protein. This feeding program was continued to 24 weeks of age and the turkeys were weighed at 4 week intervals. Subsequent turkey growth tests were made in screen floored batteries on diets prepared at the laboratory. Protein levels of approximately 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 69
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 7, 2015
HE literature on protein requirements of poultry is so extensive that no attempt will be made to review it in this report. The National Research Council bulletin on Recommended Nutrient Allowances for Poultry (Cravens el al., 1946) suggests that a chick starting diet should contain 20 percent of protein and that a turkey starting diet should contain 24 percent of protein. For most rapid growth of broilers, many authorities have recommended more than 20 percent of protein. Almquist and Asmundson (1944) found that they obtained more rapid growth during the first week when they fed their chicks 30 percent protein diets. The advantage over a 20 percent starter was maintained for 8 weeks. However, there was no difference in the growth rate after the first week. Production of turkey broilers has received some study (Carter, 1946; Thayer and Davis, 1948). Here, too, the use of feeds containing high levels of protein needs investigation. Excessively high protein levels may not be desirable. Titus (1941) found that over the entire growth period of chickens the best efficiency of feed utilization was obtained with 21 percent of protein. Increasing the protein level above 21 percent resulted in rather rapid decrease of feed efficiency. Peck (1948) advises against increasing the protein level to overcome a specific amino acid deficiency because of the resulting decrease in efficiency of utilization.
70
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. REED AND JAMES C. FRITZ TABLE 1.—Tests on commercial broiler feeds FeedB
FeedC
FeedD
FeedE
FeedF
No. chicks* Protein % Fat% Ash% Calcium % Phosphorus % Vitamin D**
70 19.7 4.0 5.3 1.4 0.7 97
70 25.5 5.3 7.4 2.0 1.1 106
70 19.0 3.5 6.8 2.1 0.9 106
70 20.6 4.0 5.3 1.3 0.6 82
70 20.0 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 49
70 20.0 3.8 6.8 1.8 0.9 82
Av. wt. (gms.) 4 wks. 8 wks. 12 wks. 14 wks.
353 887 1,390 1,554
367 882 1,356 1,605
315 817 1,281 1,433
370 892 1,300 1,534
357 872 1,457 1,678
336 814 1,393 1,599
0
8
2
4
1
2
4.26
4.34
4.90
4.37
4.10
4.15
No. with perosis Gms. feed/gm. gain
* Red-Rock cross bred chicks, both sexes. ** A.O.A.C. units vitamin D per 100 grams of feed.
percent were obtained by varying the quantities of corn and one or more protein concentrates. The influence of different protein concentrates was investigated. In the final test, a comparison was made between a high protein, high energy type ration and a more usual 24 percent turkey starter. The use of diets containing high percentages of soybean meal apparently increases the chick's requirement for the "Animal Protein Factor" (Ansbacher, 1948). Since unfavorable results had been obtained with high levels of protein in the usual type turkey starting diets, the inclusion of condensed fish solubles and the inclusion of a combination of fish solubles and whey solubles was tried. In these battery studies with poults, the groups contained an average of 18 birds. Most of the tests were terminated at 8 weeks of age, and the poults were examined at that time for any abnormalities. Records of feed consumption were maintained. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Chicks.—Table 1 shows the results of the chick growth test on six leading brands
of commercial broiler mash. There is very little correlation between the chemical TABLE 2.—Effect of increasing protein content upon chick growth Pen 5286
Pen 5287
Diet 5286 45.5% Ground yellow corn 43.0% Soybean meal. 41.0 Ground wheat 10.0 Dried skim milk 13.5 Wheat bran 10.0 Std. middlings 10.0 Soybean meal 12.0 Meat scrap 5.0 Alfalfa meal 5.0 Calcium carbonate 2.0 Flaydry* 0.5 Ladpro40D** 2.0 Iodizedsalt+Mn 0.5 Protein %
18
30
No. chicks***
28
28
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 38 1 wk. 57 2 wks. 97 3 wks. 148 4 wks. 230 . 5 wks. 322 6 wks. 435 7 wks. 568 8 wks. 668
38 63 95 150 237 333 438 572 686
* Commercial supplement containing whey solubles. ** Commercial supplement containing fish liver and glandular meal. *** New Hampshire chicks, both sexes.
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Feed A
71
EXPERIENCES WITH HIGH PROTEIN DIETS FOR CHICKS ^ND POULTS TABLE 3.—Effect
of adding protein concentrates to a commercial 18 percent chick starter
18% Starter B
18% Starter A
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks. 10 wks. Feed/gain
34 112 248 482 799 1,150
36 115 252 480 804 1,169
35 116 244 474 769 1,112
3.39
35 124 254 510 827 1,118
36 99 209 440 752 1,118
35 122 251 505 804 1,103 3.48
3.80
have diluted some one or more nutrients to critical levels, but there was no evidence that this did occur. The fact that there was a small growth response during the first week or two apparently indicates that protein was the first limiting factor. Poults.—The comparison of the two commercial turkey starters is summarized in Table 4. The higher protein, lower fiber ration gave the faster early growth. However, it should be noted that the percentage difference in growth was greatest during the first 4 weeks, and that this difference was diminishing even before the diets were changed at 8 weeks. At 24 weeks of age the difference was negligible. TABLE 4.—Growth of turkeys on commercial feeds.* Feed No. 1
Feed No. 2
Protein % Fiber %
26.4 5.5
24.7 8.3
No. bronze poults
46
47
Av. wt. in lbs. Init. 4 wks. 8 wks. 12 wks. 16 wks. 20 wks. 24 wks.
0.14 0.83 2.90 5.76 9.49 12.70 14.64
0.14 0.72 2.61 5.38 8.88 12.26 14.58
Ratio 2:1
Lbs. feed/lb. turkey Mortality & culls %
4.58 26.0
1.000 0.867 0.900 0.934 0.936 0.965 0.996
4.55 10.6
* Indicated feeds were fed for the first 8 weeks. Both groups were then carried on a mash and grain mixture which contained about 17 percent protein.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 7, 2015
analyses shown and the growth of the broilers. It is perhaps worth noting that the feed with the lowest protein content gave the slowest growth and the poorest feed efficiency. The feed with the highest protein content gave good growth, but did not prove to be superior to some of the 20 percent protein feeds. Table 2 summarizes the observations on an 18 percent diet prepared at the laboratory and on the diet after it had been fortified with soybean meal and dried skim milk to raise the protein content to about 30 percent. Growth may have been slightly better on the high protein diet during the first week, but there was little difference in results after the first week. Table 3 shows the results of a 10 week test involving two commercial chick starters. Both contained approximately 18 percent of protein. Two pens of New Hampshire chicks were fed each of these feeds. In addition, a portion of feed B was mixed with soybean meal and meat scrap to raise the protein content to 30 percent. This latter diet was then fed to two comparable groups of chicks for two weeks, after which the chicks were continued on the 18 percent feed B. The extra protein apparently did give these chicks a faster start, but this value was lost after the first two weeks. There is the possibility that the addition of the protein concentrates might
30% Starter made by building up Starter B with soybean meal and meat scrap, 1st 2 wks., then changed to B
72
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. REED AND JAMES C. FRITZ
TABLE
5.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of poults.
5517
5518
5519
5520
5521
Protein %
20
24
28
32
36
Basal mixture Corn meal Soybean meal Meat & bone Limestone
31.3 43.2 15.0 7.5 3.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 3 wks. 4 wks. 5 wks. 6 wks. 7 wks.
58 141 213 326 . 477 632 876
60 161 251 380 556 722 978
60 180 283 404 576 763 1103
59 175 266 393 537 685 890
58 161 232 323 407 487 802
Feed/gain
2.47
2.14
2.37
2.43
5.68
31.3 31.3 31.3 31.3 8.7 31.2 19.2 —. 23.0 31.0 38.0 38.0 11.5 15.5 19.0 27.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
A series of growth tests were then run with protein levels adjusted to approximately 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 percent, respectively, by varying the quantities of corn and protein concentrates in the diet. Basal ingredients, common to all diets, included: ground oats 10.0, wheat bran 10.0, alfalfa meal 5.0, Flaydry 3.2, Ladpro 100D 1.6, defluorinated phosphate i.0, and iodized salt with manganese sulfate 0.5. Table 5 shows the results of a test in which the variable protein concentrates were soybean meal and meat and bone scrap. Table 6 shows the results when fish meal was used as the variable protein concentrate. Table 7 shows the results TABLE 6.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of turkey poults Pen No.:
6515
6516 6517 6518
6519
Protein %
19.89 24.09 28.12 31.73 35.84
Basal mixture Corn meal Soybean meal Fish meal
31.3 44.7 20.0 4.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks. Feed/gain
31.3 36.7 20.0 12.0
31.3 28.7 20.0 20.0
31.3 21.7 20.0 27.0
31.3 13.7 20.0 35.0
57 134 274 547 962
57 138 322 666 1161
57 164 393 765 1326
57 57 181 171 364 330 691 590 1181 1037
3.72
3.12
2.85
3.72
3.88
TABLE 7.—Effect of varying protein content of the diet upon the early growth of turkey poults.
Pen No.:
6572 6573 6574 6575 6576
Protein %
50.59 24.20 27.96 31.98 35.67
Basal mixture Yellow corn meal Soybean meal Fish meal
31.6
31.6
31.6
31.6
31.6
48.4 5.0 15.0
37.4 16.0 15.0
26.4 27.0 15.0
14.4 39.0 15.0
3.4 SO.O 15.0
Av. wt. (Gms.) Initial 2 wks. 4 wks. 6 wks. 8 wks.
58 133 361 745 1272
58 148 412 814 1403
58 58 58 156 159 157 426 424 385 877 800 778 1448 1289 1281
Feed/gain
2.69
2.30
2.35
2.46
2.88
In the group (Pen No. 5521) which received 36 percent of protein derived largely from soybean meal and meat scrap, some of the poults showed an abnormal swelling of the feet. This condition is illustrated in Figure 2. Examination revealed a white, cheesy, deposit which presumptive tests indicated to be uric acid. When the poults were removed from the high protein diet at the end of the test period and fed a 20 percent diet, thfr swellings were slowly reduced and the feet finally became normal in appearance. Scott (1948) has reported better than average early growth of poults when he fed either purified diets or high protein, high energy, low fiber diets made from
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 7, 2015
Pen No.:
when soybean meal was used as the variable protein concentrate. In all cases the best growth over the entire period was obtained with 28 percent protein. In two of the tests, growth during the first two weeks was better on either 32 or 36 percent of protein, but the advantage was quickly lost as the poults became older. The influence of age of the poults, averaged for the 3 tests, is shown in Figure 1 in which the percent of the weight of the 28 percent protein group is plotted against percent of protein in the diet at ages of 2, 3, 5, and 7 weeks, respectively.
E X P E R I E N C E S WITH H I G H P R O T E I N D I E T S FOR CHICKS AND P O U L T S
73
105 % of wt. of group which reoeived 26% protein 100
95
85
•'75 20
22
24
•
At 2 weeks of age
O
At 3 weeks of age
X
At 5 weeks of age
A
At 7 weeks of age 26 28 30 Peroent protein in diet
32
36
FIG. 1. Influence of age of poults upon protein requirement.
natural ingredients. Table 8 shows a comparison between the results on a diet of this general type (Pen N o . 6556) and a more practical diet (Pen No. 6555). Although the growth obtained was not as good as t h a t reported by Scott (1948), the results did indicate superior results on the high protein, high energy, low fiber diet. The growth of the poults was definitely superior to t h a t obtained with any of the more usual type diets cbntaining similar high levels of protein. I t is not clear from these data whether some limiting factor was more amply supplied to the poults in pen 6556, or whether some growth inhibiting factor present in the usual type ration was eliminated from the low fiber diet. The data show t h a t the poults in pen 6557 grew as well as those in pens 6558
or 6559. This evidence suggests t h a t the poor results obtained with high protein practical type diets was not due to an unusual requirement for the "Animal Protein F a c t o r . " I t should also be noted t h a t no swollen feet or similar abnormal-
FIG. 2. Abnormality of feet of poult from pen 5521.
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90
74
MALCOLM D. LLOYD, CLEMENT A. R E E D AND JAMES C. FRITZ TABLE 8.—Growth of poults on high protein levels
Pen No.:
6555
6556
6557
6558
6559
Protein %
24.40
34.62
35.17.
35.76
35.38
21.4
21.9 10.0
3.2
•— -— — —
10.0 10.0
—
10.0 10.0
— —
10.0 10.0
—
—
—
Av. wt. at 8 wks. Feed/gain
—
10.0 10.0 10.0 5.0 30.5 5.0
— — — —
4.0 0.1
—
3.0
—
1.0
— —• — 1,422 3.08
35.0 12.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
5.0 38.0
—
27.5
27.5
27.5
— — —
— —. —
—. — —•
— — —
— — —
— — —
— —
— — —
—
—
—
1.6 1.6
1,554 2.85
1,190 3.22
1,206 4.00
1,071 3.78
—
5.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 0.1 1.0 1.5 2.0 1.0 0.5
4.8
1.0 0.5
4.8
1.0 0.5 3.2
4.8
1.0 0.5
Commercial supplement containing whey solubles and fish liver and glandular meal.
ities were observed in these 3 groups, in spite of the fact that the diets were verysimilar to those on which the abnormality was observed in an earlier test.
diet did not improve results. A protein level near 35 percent gave good results with a high energy, low fiber diet.
SUMMARY
Almquist, H. J., and V. S. Asmundson, 1944. High protein mashes for broilers. Poultry Sci. 23:67-71. Ansbacher, S., 1948. Chick bioassay of the "Animal Protein" factor. Abstracts of papers, 113th meeting, American Chemical Society, Chicago, 111., 20A-21A. Carter, C. W., 1946. Costs in the production of turkey broilers. Feedstuffs 18 (No. 31): 18-20. Cravens, W. W., H. J. Almquist, L. C. Norris, R. M. Bethke, and H. R. Bird, 1946. Recommended Nutrient Allowances for Poultry. A report by the Sub-committee on Poultry Nutrition, National Research Council. Peck, L., 1948. Searching for new sources of proteins. Feedstuffs 20 (No. 23): 28-30. Scott, M. L., 1948. Nutritional studies with poults. Feedstuffs 20 (No. 12): 32-34. Thayer, R. H., and G. T. Davis, 1948. Use of estrogens in turkey broiler production. Poultry Sci. 27: 176-181. Titus, H. W., 1941. The Scientific Feeding of Chickens. The Interstate, Danville, 111.
REFERENCES
The data suggest that protein levels above 20 percent may give faster early growth of chicks, but that the advantage is largely lost by the time the chicks reach market age. With several practical type diets, the best growth of turkey poults to 7 or 8 weeks of age was obtained with about 28 percent of protein in the diet. Diets with 32 percent of protein gave the fastest growth during the first two weeks, but continuing the poults on protein levels above 28 percent beyond about two weeks was undesirable. In one test a protein level of 36 percent was apparently toxic. Increasing the "Animal Protein Factor" content of the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at UCSF Library on April 7, 2015
Yellow corn meal Rolled oats Ground oats Wheat bran Std. middlings Alfalfa meal Soybean meal Fish meal Meat scrap Casein Gelatin Dried brewers yeast MF-FL Blend* Dry D 2000 Dog fish liver oil Ground limestone Defl. phosphate Iodized s a l t + M n 1:20 liver powder Cond. fish solubles Cond. whey solubles