Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

R. Leitgeb, M. Tschischej, F. Hutterer und J. Bartelt:

Impact of protein reduction and arginine and valine supplementation in the diet on growth and slaughter performance of broilers

Summary

In a feeding trial with broilers the impact of a conventional diet (FG1), and three diets with relatively 10 % lower content of protein (FG2, 3 and 4) were investigated. Two lower protein diets were alternatively supplemented with L-arginine (FG3) and L-valine (FG4). As traits of the trial were measured: growth and slaughter performance, chemical composition of the carcass, blood parameters and the organoleptic quality of breast meat. 276 one day-old chicks were divided into four feeding groups. Lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan were constant in all feed mixtures. The diet of FG3 was supplemented with L-arginine and the diet of FG4 with L-valine on the level of FG1. In each feeding group were 69 broilers in four pens. The food was offered ad libitum. At the beginning of the trial, the average weight of the chicks was 40 g. At the end of the growth period (37 days) the live weight of the chicks in FG1, 2, 3 and 4 was 2083, 1930, 2074, and 1893 g and the feed conversation rate was 1.80, 1.90, 1.86 and 1.93, respectively. The slaughter performance especially the weight of carcass of FG1 and 3 showed the best and FG2 and 4 the worst results. The weight of organs, blood parameters, chemical composition of the carcass and the meat quality (tenderness, juiciness and taste) were not influenced by the different contents of protein, arginine and valine levels in the diets. The results of the present investigation indicates that in diets with less protein supplementation of L-arginine will have a great positive influence on the development of broilers. Otherwise the supplementation with L-valine showed no effects on growth and slaughter performances. Key words: Broiler, protein, arginine, valine, growth performance, slaughter performance.