Effects of Dietary Amino Acid Density and Exogenous Protease Inclusion on Growth Performance and Apparent Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Turkeys

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients in poultry diets. In an effort to minimize feed costs, protein digestion and utilization by animal must be carried out as effi­ciently possible. The objective this experiment was evaluate effects dietary amino acid density exogenous protease inclusion on growth performance digestibility turkey poults. Hybrid poults (n = 780) were fed diets formulated provide low (LAA) or adequate (AAA) (approxi­mately 91 100% NRC4 recommended requirement for digestible Lys, respec­tively) with each diet being without protease. Poults received experimental from d 1 42 age. Growth metrics calculated pen weights consumption recorded throughout experiment, data obtained analysis ileal contents. Data analyzed using SAS 9.4 unit location blocking factor. For overall (d 0 42), AAA had improved (P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, conversion ratio (FCR) compared those LAA There no difference > 0.14) poult due inclusion. × interaction apparent (AIAAD) Trp. AIAAD coefficients Trp However, diets, not receiving greater than consuming 0.09) Arg, Met, Cys, Thr, Ile, Leu, Val Greater up No improvement observed when starter phase, although increased ADG 5.3% ADFI 4.1% during grower phase. benefit