Estimation of digestible tryptophan:lysine ratios for maximum performance, egg quality and welfare of white-egg-laying hens by fitting the different non-linear models

ABSTRACT

A total of 360 Hy-Line W-36 hens at 30 wk of age were assigned to 6 dietary treatments that consisted of 6 different (11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31) digestible Trp:Lys ratios. Hens were fed the experimental diets from 30 to 36 wk of age. Productive traits were recorded every wk and egg quality was measured at 36 wk of age. Total IgM, IgG, anti-sheep red blood cell antibody titres, plasma corticosterone, serotonine and glucose concentrations and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H:L) were determined at wk 6 of the experiment. Results showed a significant improvement (P < .0001) in egg production, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and body weight by increasing the standardized ileal digestible (SID) Trp:Lys ratio from 11 to 19. Relative weights of shell (P < .05) and shell strength (P < .06) were affected by dietary treatments. Hens fed graded levels of SID Trp responded by decreasing the H:L ratio in a linear or curvilinear manner (P < .05). The study reported here indicated that the ideal SID Trp:Lys ratio for laying hens ranged from17.5 to 29 based on the response criteria and regression models.

KEYWORDS:

• Laying hen
• digestible tryptophan
• performance
• immunity
• welfare

Introduction

Tryptophan is one of the essential amino acids mainly used for protein synthesis. In addition, it has numerous metabolic roles such as the conversion to niacin and the precursor of serotonin and melatonin. Because its concentration is the lowest of all amino acids in organisms, it can easily play a rate-limiting role in protein synthesis (Corzo et al. 2005). The specific inclusion rates of the plant origin protein sources can indicate Trp degree of limitation. The daily total tryptophan recommendation for laying hens varies from 117 to 239 mg/hen per d and is necessary to optimize laying hens’ performance (Ishibashi 1985; Othani et al. 1989; Jensen et al. 1990; Harms & Russell 1999). Based on the recent estimation by Bregendahl et al. (2008), Trp requirement for true digestible Trp was 120 mg/d, which was similar to the 122 mg/d of digestible Trp reported by Coon and Zhang (1999) for 33–49-wk-old laying hens and the 149 mg/d of total Trp reported by Harms and Russell (2000) for 30–36-wk-old hens. However, the NRC (1994) recommendation (160 mg/d total Trp) is greater than that observed by Bregendahl et al. (2008). Nevertheless, the existing database regarding the tryptophan requirement for laying hens is inconsistent and mostly reported for performance rather than other response criteria such as stress or immunity (NRC 1994; CVB 1996; Coon & Zhang, 1999; Bregendahl et al. 2008; Rostagno et al. 2011). The solution to obtaining reliable amino acid requirements is not to use the absolute amino acid recommendations, but rather to use the ideal amino acid profile for laying hens (Bregendhal et al. 2008.). The ideal amino acid profile employs the concept that, while absolute amino acid requirements change broadly due to genetic or environmental factors, the ratios among them are only slightly affected. Thus, once the ideal amino acid profile has been determined, the requirement for a single amino acid (e.g. lysine) can be determined experimentally or modelled for a given field situation and the requirement for all the other amino acids calculated using the individual ideal amino acid ratios in the profile. Such an approach has been adopted with success by the swine industry (NRC, Nutrient Requirements of Swine, 1998) and is finding use in the broiler industry as well (Mack et al. 1999; Baker 2003; Dari et al. 2005). Although feed-grade synthetic form l-Trp is currently available for dietary formulation, the Trp requirement of laying hens is typically met by intact protein sources. However, results of dose-response studies addressing the Trp need in laying hens are variable. It is suggested that 0.2–0.4 g/kg of dietary Trp supplementation has beneficial effects on shell strength, serum IgM and superoxide dismutase concentration of brown-egg laying hens under high temperature and humidity conditions (Dong et al. 2012). In the de Lima et al. (2012) research, increases in the digestible Trp to Lys promoted morphological characteristics of the digestive and reproductive systems of laying hens, in addition to performance parameters. This study was, therefore, conducted to estimate digestible Trp to Lys ratio for maximum performance, immunity and welfare of Hy-Line W-36 hens using different non-linear regression models.

Material and methods

A total of 360 Hy-Line (W-36) hens at 30 wk of age were allocated to 6 treatments. Each dietary treatment was assigned to six replicates in a randomized complete block design. Each experimental unit consisted of 10 hens that were housed in groups of 5 in 2 adjacent cages. The experiment was conducted from 30 to 36 wk of age. In a 9-d pre-experimental period, means of daily feed intake was recorded. Based on the 90 g daily feed intake, a basal diet was formulated to meet or exceed nutrient recommendations by the Hy-Line W-36 nutritional guidelines (2009), except for the Trp, Lys and crude protein (CP) (Table 1). The CP content of basal diet was reduced and the diet also contained corn gluten meal in order to obtain a low level of Trp. Crystalline feed-grade amino acids (AAs) were added to the basal diet to meet minimum AA ratio requirements. In order to prevent excessive Lys supply, digestible Lys (0.75%; 675 mg/d) in basal diet was calculated as 90% of Hy-Line recommendation. Graded levels of l-Trp (0.03% increments) were added to the basal diet (substituted by corn starch) to create dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) Trp:Lys ratios 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 31 (0.08%, 0.11%, 0.14%, 0.17%, 0.20% and 0.23% SID Trp). In addition, a commercial control diet was formulated similar to that of the AA-deficient basal diet, and formulated to meet or exceed nutrient recommendations by the Hy-Line W-36 nutritional guidelines (2009). Diets were formulated based on the SID amino acids using the Hy-Line W-36 nutritional guidelines.

Table 1. Ingredient and calculated nutrient.

Ingredients (%)	Basal	Control
Corn	69.52	51.43
Soybean meal (48%)	5.80	26.03
Corn gluten meal	7.27	2.69
Soybean oil	1.27	5.71
Limestone	10.59	10.55
Dicalcium phosphate	2.45	2.29
Sodium chloride	0.27	0.26
NaHCO3	0.20	0.20
Corn starch	0.15	0.00
dl-Met	0.30	0.21
l-Lys. HCl	0.50	0.01
l-Thr	0.22	0.01
l-Arg	0.36	–
l-Val	0.25	–
l-Ile	0.25	–
l-Trp	Variable^a	–
Vitamin and mineral premix^b	0.30	0.30
Nutrient composition (%)
Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg)	2920	2920
CP	14	18.2
Lys SID^c	0.75	0.83
Met SID	0.51	0.46
Met + Cys SID	0.70	0.70
Thr SID	0.58	0.58
Trp SID	0.08	0.18
Arg SID	0.89	1.07
Ile SID	0.66	0.68
Val SID	0.75	0.75
Calcium	4.50	4.50
Available phosphorous	0.52	0.52
Sodium	0.18	0.18

^a l-Trp supplied at 0.00%, 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.09%, 0.12% and 0.15% of the diet.

^bProvided per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 10,560 IU; vitamin D3, 3960 IU; vitamin E, 19,800 IU; vitamin K3, 2.6 mg; vitamin B1, 2 mg; vitamin B2, 6.6 mg; vitamin B6, 4 mg; vitamin B12, 0.026 mg; nicotinic acid, 33 mg; folic acid, 0.7 mg; pantothenic acid, 7.9 mg; choline chloride, 132 mg; Mn, 105 mg; Zn, 105 mg; Cu, 6.6 mg; Se, 0.36 mg and I, 2 mg.

^cSID.

All protein-containing feedstuff were analysed for protein, total amino acid and dry matter prior to formulation. Digestible amino acid content of feed ingredients was calculated using digestibility coefficients recommended by Evonik (AminoDat4.0). Feed (in mash form) and water were supplied ad libitum to the hens. Egg production was recorded daily; feed consumption and egg weight were recorded weekly. Egg mass and feed conversion (g feed/g egg) were calculated from egg production, egg weight and feed consumption. Body weight changes were obtained by weighing all hens per replicate at the beginning and end of the experiment. Two eggs from each replicate (12 eggs/treatment) were collected at 6th wk of the experiment for measuring the egg components (albumen, yolk and shell percentages), Haugh units and shell quality. Shell breaking strength and shell thickness were measured using an egg shell force gauge (model no. 55R1123, Instron Corp., Canton, MA) and Karl Deutsch D-56 (wuppertalechometer 1061), respectively.

On wk 5 of the experiment, six birds per treatment were injected intravenously via the wing with 0.5 mL of 7% sheep red blood cell (SRBC) suspension. Blood samples were collected from each bird at 12 d after SRBC challenge. The total, mercaptoethanol-sensitive (MES, presumably IgM) and mercaptoethanol-resistant (MER, presumably IgG) anti-SRBC antibody titres were determined using a microheamagglutination technique as described by Yamamoto and Glick (1982) and Dix and Taylor (1996). The antibody data were expressed as the log₂ of the reciprocal of the highest dilution giving visible agglutination.

At 4 wk of experiment, birds were vaccinated against Lasota Newcastle disease (ND) virus by spray method. Ten days after vaccination, one bird from each replicate were randomly selected to collect blood samples for antibody titre analysis. Serum antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus were measured by the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI), and HI antibodies were then converted into log. On wk 6 of experimental period, blood samples were collected (6 birds/treatment) using heparinized syringes. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were determined using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Glucose and serotonine were determined using an auto-analyser.

Statistical analysis

Data were analysed by using the Generalized linear models procedure of SAS software in a randomized complete block design (SAS 2003). Differences among treatments means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range tests. Various broken-line, quadratic and exponential regression models were fitted to data for estimating the Trp:Lys ratio for various responses. The SAS NLIN procedure was used to fit linear plateau (LPL), quadratic plateau (QPL), two-slope broken-line, two-slope broken-line with quadratic function at values of x < R and a straight line at values of x > R, where x = tryptophan levels below or higher than the requirement point, two straight-line, one-breakpoint model that included a random component for the slope of the curve below the requirement (Robbins et al. 2006). In the exponential model, the dietary SID Trp:Lys ratio was calculated that was required to achieve 95% of the maximum of the parameter considered.

Results and discussion

The effects of Trp:Lys ratios on performance, egg quality, H/L ratio and plasma glucose, serotonin and corticosterone concentrations and antibody titres against SRBC and ND are shown in Tables 2–4. The basal diet was clearly deficient in Trp. Considerable improvement (P < .001) in egg production, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and body weight changes were observed when the SID Trp:Lys was increased from 11 to 19 (Table 2). There were no significant increases in egg weight as dietary Trp:Lys increased from 11 to 31. Hens fed the control diet had greater egg weight compared to those fed the titration diets (P < .05). In agreement with the current experiment, Harms and Russell (2000) reported that egg production, egg weight and egg content were significantly increased by dietary supplementation of Trp (0.12–0.20%) to the basal diet. Jensen et al. (1990) reported that rate of egg production was significantly improved by tryptophan supplementation in diet containing various levels of protein, and the requirement increased as the protein level increased. Pan et al. (2013) reported that Trp supplementation promoting the balance of amino acids may be also an important reason in increased bird performance. Increasing SID Trp:Lys did not affect egg yolk, albumen content and albumen quality (Table 3). Shell percentage, strength and thickness were increased quadratically by increasing the Trp level in diets. Except for the heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, variables such as plasma serotonine, corticosterone, glucose and also immune response parameters failed to respond to SID Trp:Lys (Table 4). Hens fed the graded levels of Trp generally showed decreased H:L ratio. The effects of tryptophan on the reproductive and digestive systems’ development, immunity and stress responses of birds have been studied. In a recent study de Lima et al (2012) concluded that in addition to performance criteria, increase in the digestible Trp to Lys promoted morphological characteristics of the digestive and reproductive system of laying hens. These parameters were not evaluated in the current study. Dong et al (2012) suggested that 0.2–0.4 g/kg of dietary Trp supplementation has beneficial effects on shell strength, serum IgM and superoxide dismutase concentration of brown laying hens under high temperature and humidity conditions.

Table 2. The effects of different Trp:Lys ratios on laying hens’ performance (30–36 wk of age) and body weight change.

Trp/Lys ratio	Hen day egg production (%)	Feed intake (g/hen per d)	Egg weight (g)	Egg mass (g)	Feed conversion (g:g)	Body weight change (g)
18 (control)	87.6^a	89.7^a	57.8^a	50.6^a	1.77^c	−4.00^a
11	59.9^c	74.1^c	55.9^b	33.5^d	2.22^a	−125.00^bc
15	75.4^b	82.8^b	56.5^b	42.6^c	1.95^b	−149.00^c
19	85.5^a	91.6^a	56.8^ab	48.5^b	1.89^b	−50.00^ab
23	84.2^a	90.4^a	56.4^b	47.5^b	1.91^b	−61.00^ab
27	84.5^a	89.1^a	56.4^b	47.7^b	1.87^b	−23.83^a
31	85.1^a	91.4^a	56.5^b	48.5^b	1.88^b	−2.83^a
SEM	1.21	0.89	0.38	0.69	0.028	26.02
P-value	<.0001	<.0001	.04	<.0001	<.0001	.0009

^a–dMeans in a column without a common superscript are significantly different.

Table 3. The effects of different Trp:Lys ratios on egg components and quality.

Trp/Lys ratio	Albumen (g/100 g egg)	Yolk (g/100 g egg)	Shell (g/100 g egg)	Shell thickness (µm)	Shell strength	Albumen height	Haugh unit
18 (control)	64.85	26.02	9.14^abc	30.32^ab	2.70^ab	6.18	77.90
11	66.26	24.91	8.82^c	29.65^b	2.58^b	7.26	85.17
15	65.65	25.49	8.95^bc	30.13^b	2.89^ab	6.72	82.49
19	65.59	24.98	9.42^abc	30.96^ab	3.12^ab	6.75	83.40
23	65.51	25.01	9.48^ab	32.25^a	3.45^a	6.42	79.19
27	65.30	25.10	9.61^a	31.63^ab	3.48^a	6.63	82.00
31	65.29	25.38	9.32^abc	31.27^ab	3.32^ab	6.95	83.22
SEM	0.43	0.42	0.19	0.64	0.24	0.33	2.11
P-value	.08	.21	.05	.12	.06	.15	.10

^a–cMeans in a column without a common superscript are significantly different.

Table 4. The effects of different Trp:Lys ratios on H/L ratio and plasma glucose, serotonine, corticostron concentration and antibody titre against SRBC.

Trp/Lys ratio		Glucose mMol/L	Serotonine ng/ml	Corticostron ng/ml	Hetrophil/lymphocyte	SRBC	IgG	IgM	ND
18 (control)		11.08	261.83	0.7367	0.1567^d	9.16	3.83	5.33	8.83
11	1	11.38	267.17	0.7117	0.3950^a	8.83	3.83	5.00	7.66
15	2	9.48	280.83	1.000	0.3000^b	8.17	3.67	4.50	7.66
19	3	9.82	326.33	0.7433	0.2583^bc	8.17	3.67	4.50	6.83
23	4	9.43	320.00	0.6800	0.2383^bcd	8.83	4.33	4.50	7.00
27	5	9.93	234.50	0.8250	0.2283^bcd	7.83	4.17	3.67	7.33
31	6	10.90	240.17	0.7483	0.1983^cd	7.17	3.17	4.00	7.33
SEM		0.85	30.74	0.1101	0.0318	0.63	0.30	0.47	0.44
P-value		.51	.25	.47	.0003	.33	.19	.24	.14

^a–cMeans in a column without a common superscript are significantly different.

fDifferent regression equations from laying hens receiving progressive dietary Trp:Lys ratios for different response criteria are shown in Table 5. The minimal break point on egg production (Figure 1) and egg mass occurred at an SID Trp:Lys ratio of 17.5, with a maximum quadratic requirement of 25.5 SID Trp:Lys (Table 5). Estimates for the optimal SID Trp:Lys ratio based on feed conversion ratio (FCR) are shown in Table 5. The break point occurred at an SID Trp:Lys ratio of 15.9, with the maximum quadratic at 24.9 SID Trp:Lys. Researches on the Trp requirement of the laying hens are scare, and the reported literature shows large differences. NRC (1994) have proposed a requirement of 0.16% of Trp in diets for the commercial laying hens. Bray (1969) calculated the Trp requirement of 117 mg/hen per d for a flock of laying hens with body weight of 1.99 kg and maximum egg output of 46 g/hen per d. Valuable research on the Trp requirement for different strains of laying pullets has been done by Morris and Wethli (1978). They produced a table of prediction for optimum Trp intake. These researchers estimated the optimum Trp intake of Bray’s flock to be 129 mg/hen per d by using coefficients derived from Bray’s data of 172 mg/hen per d from their table.

Figure 1. Fitted broken-line and quadratic plot of the percentage of the maximal egg production as a function of SID Trp:Lys in 30–36 wk Hy-Line white-laying hens.

Table 5. Various regression equations from laying hens receiving progressive dietary Trp:Lys ratios for different response criteria.

Response criteria	Curve type	Equation	R^2	P-value	Optimization
Egg production	Straight broken line	y = 85.01 − 3.86(17.49 − x)	0.92	<.0001	17.5
Egg production	Quadratic broken line	y = 85.09 − 0.26 × (20.83 − x) × (20.83 − x)	0.91	<.0001	20.8
Egg production	Quadratic	y = 7.74 + 6.24x − 0.12x^2	0.86	<.0001	25.5
Egg production	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 59.72 + 26.13 × [1 − e^(−0 ^. ^26 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.90	<.0001	22.5
FCR	Straight broken line	y = 1.89 + 0.067(15.93 − x)	0.75	<.0001	15.9
FCR	Quadratic broken line	y = 1.89 + 0.007 × (18.06 − x) × (18.06 − x)	0.75	<.0001	18.1
FCR	Quadratic	y = 2.90 − 0.085x + 0.0.0017x^2	0.66	<.0001	24.9
FCR	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	Not optimized
Egg mass	Straight broken line	y = 48.06 − 2.27(17.4 − x)	0.92	<.0001	17.5
Egg mass	Quadratic broken line	y = 48.07 − 0.16 × (20.6 − x) × (20.6 − x)	0.91	<.0001	20.6
Egg mass	Quadratic	y = 3.16 + 3.64x − 0.07x^2	0.86	<.0001	25.5
Egg mass	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 33.38 + 15.09 × [1−e^(−0 ^. ^28 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.90	<.0001	21.7
Feed intake	Straight broken line	y = 90.62 − 2.17(18.6 − x)	0.88	<.0001	18.6
Feed intake	Quadratic broken line	y = 90.60 − 0.156 × (21.4 − x) × (21.4 − x)	0.86	<.0001	21.4
Feed intake	Quadratic	y = 39.2 + 4.12x − 0.08x^2	0.81	<.0001	25.6
Feed intake	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 73.79 + 17.41 × [1−e^(−0 ^. ^24 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.84	<.0001	23.5
Egg weight	Straight broken line	Not optimized
Egg weight	Quadratic broken line	Not optimized
Egg weight	Quadratic	Not optimized
Egg weight	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	Not optimized
Shell percentage	Straight broken line	y = 9.47 − 0.07(20.3 − x)	0.22	.018	20.3
Shell percentage	Quadratic broken line	Not optimized
Shell percentage	Quadratic	y = 7.04 + 0.19x − 0.004x^2	0.22	.016	25.1
Shell percentage	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 8.76 + 0.76 × [1 − e^(−0 ^. ^16 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.20	.03	29.7
Shell thickness	Straight broken line	y = 31.43 − 0.16(22.2 − x)	0.20	.03	22.2
Shell thickness	Quadratic broken line	Not optimized
Shell thickness	Quadratic	y = 25.09 + 0.51x − 0.01x^2	0.19	.03	25
Shell thickness	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 29.53 + 1.93 × [1 − e^(−0 ^. ^18 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.17	.04	27.7
Shell strength	Straight broken line	y = 3.34 − 0.15(17.9 − x)	0.36	.0006	17.9
Shell strength	Quadratic broken line	y = 3.41 − 0.005 × (25.4 − x) × (25.4 − x)	0.38	.0004	25.4
Shell strength	Quadratic	y = −0.0046 + 0.26x − 0.005x^2	0.39	.0003	26.1
Shell strength	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	y = 2.28 + 1.18 × [1 − e^(−0 ^. ^18 ^×  ^(x ^− ^11)]	0.38	.0004	27.7
H/L ratio	Straight broken line	y = 0.22 + 0.017(20.6 − x)	0.40	.0002	20.6
H/L ratio	Quadratic broken line	y = 0.22 + 0.0007 × (26.7 − x) × (26.7 − x)	0.41	.0002	26.7
H/L ratio	Quadratic	y = 0.65 − 0.03x + 0.0005x^2	0.41	.0003	29.6
H/L ratio	Exponential (95% of the maximum response)	Not optimized

According to the broken-line, quadratic and exponential models, the dietary Trp:Lys to reach the optimum (100% of maximum in the broken-line and quadratic models; 95% of maximum in the exponential model) of shell thickness (Figure 2) and strength and H:L ratio (Figure 3) was higher than those for egg production, egg mass, feed intake and FCR (Table 5). Broken-line, curvilinear (quadratic) and exponential responses to dietary Trp/Lys level were observed for H:L ratio.

Figure 2. Fitted broken-line and quadratic plot of the percentage of the maximal egg shell thickness (mm) as a function of SID Trp:Lys in 30–36 wk Hy-Line white-laying hens.

Figure 3. Fitted broken-line and quadratic plot of the H:L as a function of SID Trp:Lys in 30–36 wk Hy-Line white-laying hens.

Bregendahl et al. (2008) published an extended study on the ideal protein profile of modern laying hens, but there are several other references for this topic including Jais et al. (1995), Coon and Zhang (1999), Rostagno (2011) and Leeson and Summer (2005). Regarding Trp:Lys the ratio provided by Jais et al. (1995) was substantially lower compared to the other works. These data demonstrated that the minimum SID Trp:Lys ratio from 30 to 36 wk for performance criteria is 17.5, and for maximizing the shell quality parameters and H:L ratio is 20 and 30, respectively.

Bregendahl et al. (2008) by using broken-line models reported that the optimum tryptophan to lysine ratio is 22 for performance traits in laying hens. Jais et al (1995) and CVB (1996) of the Netherlands suggested a ratio to Lys of 16 and 19, respectively. For performance criteria, except for Jais et al. (1995) other researchers (NRC (1994), 23; CVB (1996), 19; Coon and Zhang, (1999), 20; Leeson and Summers, (2005), 21; Bregendahl et al. (2008), 22; Rostagno et al. (2011), 23, de Lima et al (2012), 24.5) reported Trp to Lys ratio higher than the current study.

In summary, the study reported here indicated that the minimum requirement of SID Trp:Lys ratio for laying hens (30–36 wk) ranged from 17.5 to 29 based on the response criteria and regression model.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.