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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167586
Title: DIETARY GLYCINE NEEDS OF BROILER CHICKS

Author
item CORZO, A - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item KIDD, M - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item BURNHAM, D - AJINOMOTO-HEARTLAND
item Branton, Scott
item Kerr, Brian

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2004
Publication Date: 7/25/2004
Citation: Corzo, A., Kidd, M.T., Burnham, D.J., Branton, S.L., Kerr, B.J. 2004. Dietary glycine needs of broiler chicks. Poultry Science Association Meeting. v. 83(Suppl. 1). p. 314. Abstract W6.

Interpretive Summary: abstract only, no summary required

Technical Abstract: Research delineating Gly needs for broilers is sparse. Dietary Gly might become a limiting factor in all-vegetable diets fed to broiler chicks when CP is low. A study was conducted to evaluate dietary Gly needs in broiler chicks from 7 to 20 d of age. Ross 508 male chicks were placed in 32 floor pens (15 chicks/pen; 5 pens/trt) of a closed-curtain sided house. Chicks were fed a common pre-starter corn-soybean meal based diet (3100 kcal ME/kg; 23.1% CP; 1.32% Lys) from 1 to 7 d of age, and then fed a titration diet that contained progressive amounts of 0.12% dietary Gly ranging from 0.62% (1.40% Gly+Ser) to 1.22% (2.00% Gly+Ser) from 7 to 20 d of age. Experimental diets were accomplished by supplementing Gly at the expense of a filler. Using regression analysis (95% of minimum or maximum response) it was determined that chicks optimized BW gain and feed conversion at 0.98% (1.76% Gly+Ser) and 1.02% (1.80% Gly+Ser) dietary Gly, respectively. Blood plasma free threonine and serine were unaffected by Gly supplementation, but plasma Gly linearly increased. Dietary Gly may need to be considered as a limiting nutrient in the young chick, especially if CP is low and only vegetable ingredients are used. Present results also suggest that current NRC (1994) recommendations for Gly+Ser of 1.25% may be low.