Tryptophan, threonine and isoleucine supplementation in low-protein diets for commercial laying hens

Abstract

Isoleucine (Ile), threonine (Thr) and tryptophan (Trp) are most likely candidates for becoming third limiting amino acids (AA) in layer diets. This work studied the effect of supplementing Ile, Thr and Trp in low-protein diets on the productive performance, egg quality and serum parameters of Hy-Line W36 laying hens. A total of 360 30-week-old laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design into 9 treatments with 5 replications of 8 birds each. Treatments consisted of a control diet that was based on corn and soybean meal formulated with 15.5% CP. A second diet with 13% CP was formulated to meet the requirements for all essential AA of the control diet, except for Ile, Thr and Trp. The other treatments consisted of individual and combined supplementation of the aforementioned AA in the 13% CP diet. The reduction of the dietary protein level negatively influenced (p<0.05) the productivity of the hens, impairing egg production, feed conversion (kg kg-1 and kg dz-1), and egg mass. However, these variables were restored with individual and combined supplementation of the three AA in the 13% CP diet. Individually-supplemented diets with Ile, or combined with Thr and/or Trp, resulted in hens with lower (p<0.05) serum uric acid and ammonia concentrations as compared to birds receiving diets with 15.5% (control) and 13% CP. The protein levels can be reduced (13% CP) in the diet of commercial laying hens without compromising performance, egg quality or serum parameters with individual Ile, Thr or Trp supplementation.

Keywords

• Amino acid; Crude protein; Egg quality; Performance; Poultry