PURDUE EXTENSION Animal Sciences AS-584-W Protein and Amino Acid Requirements for Poultry by Todd J. Applegate - Purdue University Roselina Angel – University of Maryland, College Park Introduction Essential amino acids must be supplied by the diet, This fact sheet has been developed to support the and a sufficient amount of non-essential amino acids implementation of the Natural Resources Conservation must also be supplied to prevent the conversion of Service Feed Management 592 Practice Standard. essential amino acids into non-essential amino acid. The Feed Management 592 Practice Standard was Additionally, if the amino acids supplied are not in adopted by NRCS in 2003 as another tool to assist the proper, or ideal, ratio in relation to the needs of with addressing resource concerns on livestock and the animal, then amino acids in excess of the least poultry operations. Feed management can assist with limiting amino acid will be deaminated and likely used reducing the import of nutrients to the farm and reduce as a source of energy rather than toward body protein the excretion of nutrients in manure. synthesis. This breakdown of amino acids will also Dietary crude protein (CP) requirements are result in higher nitrogenous excretions. somewhat of a misnomer as the requirement is The best way to reduce N in poultry excreta is to based on the amino acids content of the protein. lower the amount of CP that is fed by supplementing Once digested and absorbed, amino acids are used diets with amino acids. Reductions in the non-essential as the building blocks of structural proteins (muscle, amino acid pool, coupled with supplying a more skin, ligaments), metabolic proteins, enzymes, and “ideal” amino acid profile in the diet can substantially precursors of several body components. Because increase the efficacy of overall N retention by the bird. body proteins are constantly being synthesized and On a practical basis, however, bird performance can be degraded, an adequate amino acid supply is critical to hindered by these lower CP diets due to a number of support growth or egg production. factors that tend to be associated with dietary CP and In poultry, 22 amino acids are needed to form body amino acid reductions. protein, some of which can be synthesized by the bird Formulation based on bird amino acid requirements (non-essential), whereas others cannot be made at all, rather than CP can minimize N excretion by simply or in sufficient quantities to meet metabolic needs reducing total dietary N intake. For example, Ferguson (essential). Essential amino acids must be supplied et al., (1998) demonstrated with broilers that litter N by the diet, and a sufficient amount of non-essential could be reduced more than 16% when dietary CP was amino acids must also be supplied to prevent the reduced by 2%, while maintaining similar levels of conversion of essential amino acids into non-essential dietary amino acids. amino acid. Additionally, if the amino acids supplied Reduced Dietary Protein are not in the proper, or ideal, ratio in relation to the Reducing the amount of CP and excess amino needs of the animal, then amino acids in excess of the acids being fed is the most obvious method to curb least limiting amino acid will be deaminated and likely N excretion and the amount of ammonia (NH3) that used as a source of energy rather than toward body can be formed and volatilized. However, the extent protein synthesis. This breakdown of amino acids will to which N reduction can be accomplished is largely also result in higher nitrogenous excretions. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, West Lafayette, IN 47907 AS-584-W Protein and Amino Acid Requirements for Poultry PURDUE EXTENSION limited due to meeting the most limiting amino acid profile is needed to support optimal growth, with no after threonine and through economic decisions on limiting amino acids or surpluses. This profile has ingredient selection. been termed an “ideal” ratio, or “ideal protein.” Baker Unfortunately, there is a widespread belief that (1996) expressed this as an ideal ratio to lysine, from whenever CP concentrations are lowered, performance which the essential amino acid relationship to lysine is negatively affected. Burnham (2005) speculates that remains relatively unaffected by diet, environment, this belief stems from researchers (such as Neto et gender, and genetic background. Therefore, to al., 2002; Bregendhahl et al., 2002) who lowered CP minimize N excretion, the “ideal” combination of concentrations beyond practical formulation and then essential and non-essential amino acids are needed did not supplement back with sufficient amounts of to meet growth and/or egg production by the bird. limiting amino acids other than methionine (Met) and However, due to available feedstuffs and a limited lysine (Lys). Reductions in the non-essential amino number of supplemental amino acids, it is difficult to acid pool, coupled with supplying a more “ideal” provide this optimal ratio to the bird. amino acid profile in the diet can substantially increase Amino Acid Requirements the efficacy of overall N retention by the bird. On Broilers a practical basis, however, bird performance can be hindered by excessively lowering CP in diets due to a The NRC (1994) amino acid recommendations number of factors other than the reduction of CP itself. for broilers are based on peer-reviewed research published between 1947 and 1991 (Table 1). However, According to Waldroup (2000), these factors can the present commercial bird is very different from include: reduced potassium levels, altered ionic commercial birds available prior to 1991, due in part to balance, lack of nonessential amino acids, imbalances genetic selection as well as management practice and among certain amino acids (e.g., branched chain amino feed related changes (Havenstein et al., 1994; Williams acids), and/or potential toxic concentrations of certain et al., 2000). amino acids. For the past couple of decades, the broiler industry Amino acids which are said to be essential cannot be has utilized feeding strategies in phases that are synthesized by the bird. These essential amino acids shorter to more closely meet the nutrient needs must therefore be fed in order to supply the building of the developing bird. More recent research also blocks needed in the synthesis of body proteins suggests that the amino acid needs of the broiler differ thereby supporting growth. When supply of a single substantial from that presented in the NRC (1994). amino acid does not meet the bird’s requirement, it is considered to be “limiting”. At any given physiological Dozier et al., (2008) recently summarized the amino stage of growth — or- age, a specific amino acid acid requirements of broilers in weekly durations Table 1. NRC (1994) requirement for crude protein and the most rate limiting amino acids for broilers. Weeks of age Nutrient % 0-3 3-6 6-8 Crude protein 23.00 20.00 18.00 Methionine 0.50 0.38 0.32 Total sulfur amino acids 0.90 0.72 0.60 Lysine 1.10 1.00 0.85 Threonine 0.80 0.74 0.68 Tryptophan 0.20 0.18 0.16 Isoleucine 0.80 0.73 0.62 Arginine 1.25 1.10 1.00 Valine 0.90 0.82 0.70 Purdue Extension • Knowledge to Go 2 AS-584-W Protein and Amino Acid Requirements for Poultry PURDUE EXTENSION based on studies conducted since publication of the Laying Hens NRC (1994) until 2007. The NRC (1994) amino acid recommendations for Requirements for a high-yielding strain of broiler are turkeys are based on peer-reviewed research published presented in Table 2. between 1962 and 1989 (Table 4). Turkeys – The NRC (1994) amino acid Ingredient Selection recommendations for turkeys are based on peer- Selection of feedstuffs with relatively high reviewed research published between 1949 and 1986 digestibility can help with overall reductions in amino (Table 3). acid formulation. Table 5 presents data for protein Although these recommendations appear to be sources and their respective standardized and apparent somewhat dated, feeding of 110% of the NRC (1994) digestibility. Notably, sources such as feather-meal requirements did not improve turkey tom performance are not typically considered due to their amino acid or yields (Applegate et al., 2008). profile, and their digestibility. Table 2. Dietary amino acid (% of diet) requirements for high-yielding broilers (Dozier et al., 2008). Age, days Amino acid 7 14 21 28 35 42 56 Total sulfur amino acids 0.94 0.90 0.85 0.81 0.77 0.74 0.70 Methionine 0.62 0.55 0.50 0.48 0.46 0.47 0.50 Lysine 1.36 1.26 1.19 1.12 1.06 1.01 0.97 Threonine 0.84 0.81 0.77 0.74 0.71 0.69 0.67 Isoleucine 0.91 0.86 0.82 0.78 0.75 0.72 0.70 Valine 1.03 0.98 0.94 0.90 0.87 0.84 0.82 Arginine 1.47 1.37 1.28 1.21 1.14 1.09 1.04 Table 3. NRC (1994) requirement for the most rate limiting amino acids for turkeys. Weeks of age Nutrient, % 0-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 12-15 15-18 Crude protein 28.00 26.00 22.00 19.00 16.5 14.00 Methionine 0.55 0.45 0.40 0.35 0.25 0.25 Total sulfur amino acids 1.05 0.95 0.80 0.65 0.55 0.45 Lysine 1.60 1.50 1.30 1.00 0.80 0.65 Threonine 1.00 0.95 0.80 0.75 0.60 0.50 Tryptophan 0.26 0.24 0.20 0.148 0.15 0.13 Isoleucine 1.10 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.50 0.45 Arginine 1.60 1.40 1.10 0.90 0.75 0.60 Valine 1.20 1.10 0.90 0.80 0.70 0.60 Purdue Extension • Knowledge to Go 3 AS-584-W Protein and Amino Acid Requirements for Poultry PURDUE EXTENSION Table 4.