OPTIMIZING EGG MASS WITH AMINO-ACID SUPPLEMENTATION OF A LOW-PROTEIN DIET

Three experiments were conducted using Hy-Line W36(R) hens to determine whether essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation of a low-protein diet would enhance performance. Temperature of the laying house was increased to decrease feed intake. As a result low EAA intake occurred and egg mass (EM) was reduced. In Experiment 1, EAA supplementation restored performance to near that of control hens. The levels of EAA were increased in Experiments 2 and 3, and daily EM was equal to that of hens fed the control diet. The present data indicate that maximum performance was obtained with commercial laying hens with less than 90 g daily feed intake when adequate levels of seven EAA are added to a low-protein diet. When the hens had a greater feed intake, only three AA were required to maximize performance.