Examining the effect of dietary electrolyte balance, energy source, and length of feeding of nitrogen-free diets on ileal endogenous amino acid losses in broilers

• Published in: Poultry science 2017-09, Vol.96 (9), p.3351-3360
• Main Authors: Adedokun, S A, Pescatore, A J, Ford, M J, Jacob, J P, Helmbrecht, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acids - physiology; Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Animals; Chickens - physiology; Diet - veterinary; Ileum - drug effects; Ileum - physiology; Nitrogen - metabolism; Random Allocation; Time Factors; Water-Electrolyte Balance - drug effects
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex159

The effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB), energy source (ES), and length of feeding of nitrogen-free diet (NFD) on ileal endogenous amino acid (EAA) loss in mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) was evaluated in broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 720 chickens consisting of 15 replicate cages with 6 chickens/replicate were used. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial and consisted of 4 NFD with 2 levels (low or high) of DEB and 2 ES [corn starch (CS) or dextrose (DX)], and 2 sampling time-points (diets were fed for either 72 h (d 16 to 19) or 120 h (d 16 to 21). Experiment 2 used 360 chickens in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 levels (low or high) of DEB and 2 ES (CS or DX). Diets were fed for 72 h (d 18 to 21). All birds had access to feed and water on an ad libitum basis. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS appropriate for a completely randomized design for a factorial arrangement of treatments. For Experiment 1, there were interactions (P