The choline and sulphur amino acid requirements of broiler chickens fed on semi‐purified diets

Abstract

1. Growth and food conversion efficiency of broilers were reduced at low dietary choline concentrations. These effects were accentuated by low dietary total sulphur amino acids (TSAA).

2. Increased mortality, perosis and other pathological changes involving a number of tissues were observed in birds fed on a low‐choline diet.

3. Methionine replaced part of the dietary requirement for choline at low dietary choline concentrations.

4. High dietary concentrations of choline (> 1 750 mg/kg) increased the requirement for dietary TSAA.

5. Increasing the dietary choline while maintaining the TSAA at an inadequate level may decrease performance.

Notes

Present address: Bureau of Animal Industry, Rita Legarda Building, Station Mesa, Manila, Philippines.