Growth response of chicks following addition to the diet of various sources of nitrogen

Synopsis

Two experiments involving a total of 320 day‐old Chunky P male chicks were conducted. In the first experiment chicks were divided into 6 groups and given one of the following diets ad libitum for 6 weeks: A, with determined essential amino acids at minimal required levels; B, with published values for essential amino acids at minimal required levels; C, conventional broiler diet; D, A+1.5 per cent diammonium phosphate (DAP); E, A+3.0 per cent DAP; and F, A+4/4 per cent DAP. Adding 1.5 per cent DAP gave a significant increase in live‐weight at 4 weeks, but adding 3.0 or 4.4 per cent DAP depressed weight significantly at 4 or 6 weeks. Weights of birds receiving diet B were significantly lower than those of birds receiving diets A or C.

In the second experiment chicks were divided into 5 groups and given one of the following diets ad libitum for 4 weeks: GA (similar to A) or GA supplemented with the equivalent of 2 per cent crude protein in several forms. In HM the form was herring meal and in GG, DS and DP it was glycine+glutamic acid, diammonium sulphate and DAP, respectively. Body weights of birds receiving HM were greater (though not significantly) than those receiving GA but were significantly poorer than those fed GG, DS or DP.

Notes

Present address: Lord Rank Centre of Research, Lincoln Road, High Wycombe, Bucks.