Performance of Broilers Fed Low Protein Diets with Lysine and Methionine Supplements

A feeding trial with broilers was conducted to evaluate the effects of amino acids (lysine and methionine) supplementation of diets low in protein content on the voluntary intake, feed conversion efficiency, broiler performance, and cost and return of broiler production. Results showed cumulative voluntary feed intake was not significantly affected by lowering the protein content of the diet. Cumulative weight gain of broilers was lower with diet when supplemented iwht lysine and methionine to meet requirements. Birds fed with diets low in protein has less efficient feed converstion, but became comparable with those receiveing diets high in protein when supplemented with amino acids. Feed cost per kilogram broiler produced was not significantly affected by diets used in the study, although the low-protien diet with amino acid supplement had the lowest values. In terms of return above feed and chick cost, broilers fed with high-protein diet had the greatest value, but not significantly different from birds fed with low-protien diet with amino acid supplementation which gave about P10 per bird higher returns than those fed low-protein diet without amino acid supplementation.