Influence of Supplementing Dl-Methionine and Methionine Hydroxyl Analogue-Free Acid on the Performance and Blood Indices of Broiler Chickens
Abstract
This experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Science, Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria to determine the effect of combining Dl-methionine and Methionine Hydroxyl Analogue-free Acid (MHA-FA) also known as Alimet on the performance and blood indices of starter broiler chickens. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Two hundred and seventy (270) day old Hubbard Flex broiler chicks were allotted to six dietary treatments and replicated three times in a completely randomized design. A diet devoid of methionine was formulated with subsequent addition of mixture of MHA-FA and Dl-methionine at varying levels. Results obtained on performance revealed that weight gain, feed intake, feed cost per kg gain were not significantly (P>0.05) different. In addition, final weight and weight gain reduced across all treatments for starter and finisher phases of this study as inclusion level of MHA-FA decreased in the diet. On the other hand, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red blood cell (RBC), and White Blood Cell (WBC) were significantly (P<0.05) different across all treatment groups in the starter phase except for heamoglobin concentration which did not differ significantly. Serum cholesterol was not significantly (P>0.05) different across all treatment groups in both starter and finisher phases of this study. Total cholesterol on the other hand was significantly (P<0.05) different across all treatment (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively) in the finisher phase but was not significantly (P<0.05) different in the starter phase.
Downloads
References
Balnave, D., and A. Oliva. (1990). Responses of finishing broilers at high temperatures to dietary methionine source and supplementation levels. Australian Journal of Agricultaral Research. 41:557– 564.
Chattopadhyay, K., Mondal, M.K., and Roy, B. (2006). Comparative efficacy of DL methionine and herbal methionine on performance of broiler chicken. International Journal of Poultry Science 5(11):1034-1039.
Food and Agricultural Organization (2010). Agribusiness Handbook: Poultry meat and Eggs. Investment Centre Division. FAO. Rome, Italy.
Garlich, J. D. (1985). Response of broilers to DL-methionine hydroxyl analog free acid, DL-methionine, and L-methionine. Poultry Science. 64:1541–1548.
Institute of Agricultural Research, (2016). Meteorological data. Meteorological Unit. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nigeria
Kalbande, V.H., Ravikanth, K., Maini, S. and Rekhe, D.S. (2009). Methionine supplementations option in poultry. International Journal of Poultry Science 8(6):588-591.
Nascimento, A.H (2004). Protein deposition in the carcass of broilers. Ave world 2:2-3.
National Research Council, (1994). Nutrients Requirements of Poultry. 9 Edition. Washington D.C., USA
Oladele, S. B. and Ayo, J. O. (1999). Comparative studies on Haematocrit, Haemoglobin and Total protein values of apparent healthy and clinically sick indigenous chicken in Zaria, Nigeria. Bulletin Animal Health Production 47:163-167.
Ovimaps, (2016). Ovi location map, Ovi earth imaginary data; Jan 15th, 2016
Rostagno, H.S and Barbosa, W.A. (1995). Biological efficacy and absorption of DL-methionine hydroxyl analog-free acid compared to DL-methionine in chickens as affected by heat stress. British Poultry Science 36:303-312.
Suida, D. (2001). Formulation on Ideal Protein and technical, economic and environmental consequences. In: International Symposium on Animal Nutrition: Ideal Protein, Liquid Energy and Modeling; Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. Brasil. Santa Maria: Embrapa; Pp.27-43.
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. (Accessed February 2, 2013, at http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl)
