Evaluation of methionine and cysteine requirements of the French guinea fowl broiler
Abstract
The optimum levels of methionine and cysteine needed for growth performance and maintenance of the French guinea fowl broiler were evaluated in a randomized 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments. Day old guinea fowl keets totaling 405 were assigned to dietary treatments comprising of 3 concentrations of methionine (0.50, 0.45, 0.40%) each in combination with 3 concentrations of cysteine (0.35, 0.40, 0.45%). Each dietary treatment was replicated 3 times and each replication had 45 birds. The birds were given feed and water ad libitum with a 23-hour light regimen for a period of 4 weeks. Then, the experimental birds were evaluated for body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion in order to determine their optimum requirement for dietary methionine and cysteine. Based on the findings of this study, birds that were provided diets supplemented with 0.50% methionine and 0.35% cysteine and 0.45% methionine and 0.35% cysteine had the highest growth performance from hatch to 4 weeks of age (WOA). Birds fed 0.50% methionine and 0.35% cysteine had the best performance in terms of body weight gain, feed conversion, and methionine consumption from hatch to 4 WOA. Therefore, we recommend that French guinea fowl broilers be fed diets containing at least 0.45% methionine and 0.35% cysteine. There were significant differences (P>0.01) in body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion for all dietary treatments. This information will provide a guide to feeding the French guinea fowl broiler, ensuring efficient utilization of the essential amino acid methionine and the non-essential amino acid, cysteine, and minimize feeding costs.
Subject Area
Agriculture|Animal sciences
Recommended Citation
DeKarra Johnson,
"Evaluation of methionine and cysteine requirements of the French guinea fowl broiler"
(2015).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI1592023.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI1592023