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Title: INFLUENCE OF 2-HYDROXY-4-(METHYLTHIO)-BUTANOIC ACID ON EARLY EGG AND CHICK WEIGHTS OF BROILER BREEDERS

Author
item LIEN, R - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item HESS, J - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item GIESEN, A - NOVUS INTERNATIONAL
item YERSIN, ANDREW

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2003
Publication Date: 9/25/2003
Citation: LIEN, R.J., HESS, J.B., GIESEN, A.F., YERSIN, A.G. INFLUENCE OF 2-HYDROXY-4-(METHYLTHIO)-BUTANOIC ACID ON EARLY EGG AND CHICK WEIGHTS OF BROILER BREEDERS. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POULTRY SCIENCE. 2003. V. 2(6). p. 430-437.

Interpretive Summary: The study was conducted to determine if dietary amino acid analog supplementation will increase egg and chick weights of broiler breeders. Specifically, the utilization of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMB), liquid methionine analog was assessed. Chick yield or the ratio of chick and egg weight increased as HMB level increased in the diet. Individual egg and chick weights were not affected. In addition, HMB improved egg production during weeks 29 through 35 of the production cycle. The results demonstrate an improvement in chick yield and egg production. The improvement may positively affect the livability and growth rates of chicks, yet this hypothesis was not measured in this study.

Technical Abstract: This trial was conducted to determine if early egg and chick weights of broiler breeders are increased by dietary 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (HMB) supplementation. Hens of two strains were provided feed with HMB levels equivalent to 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 kg methionine/tonne from 21 to 35 wk. Chick yield (chick weight/egg weight) increased significantly as dietary HMB level was increased from 0 to 1 kg/tonne; however, egg and chick weights were not individually affected by increasing HMB level. Egg production was increased from 29 to 35 wk by the 0.5 kg/tonne treatment; however, there was neither improvement prior to this period nor further increases due to greater HMB levels. Mortality, primarily due to fatty-liver hemorrhagic syndrome, was markedly elevated at low HMB levels in one strain. Although increasing HMB levels had some affect on chick yield, results were not as evident as what has been measured in commercial layers.