New Model for Examining the Energy Metabolism of Laying Hens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the energy utilization of laying hens fed diets containing two energy concentrations, using a holistic approach includingmeasurement of productive, maintenance and storage energy. The experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial arrangementwith two feeding levels (ad libitum and restricted feeding of 90 g feed/hen-d), and two dietary energy levels (HE-high metabolizable energy or ME content of 2,880 kcal/kg; and LE-low ME content of 2,790 kcal/kg). A total of 60 HyLine W36 first-cycle laying hens were fed treatment dietsfor 12 wk from hen age 27 to 39 wk, with 15 individually housed hens for each of the four treatments. There were no interactions between feeding levels and dietary energy levels throughout the experiment. Feed restriction resulted in significant reductions (P ≤ 0.01) in egg production, body weight, and abdominal fat pad weight, indicating reduced nutrient availability to partition the energy towards production, maintenance, and storage functions, respectively. Reduced energy intake did not change the energy partitioned and utilized towards production (egg production) or maintenance (body weight), but significantly reduced (P = 0.03) the energy stored (reduced fat pad). These results suggest that energy utilization follows the pattern of production and maintenance before storage requirements in Hy-Line W36 laying hens

Effects of Dietary Soy Inclusion on Broiler Chick Performance and Metabolizable Energy

Soybean protein is the major source of protein and amino acids in poultry diets, although soy contains several indigestible and anti-nutritional components that might negatively affect broiler chick performance. Two experimental diets were formulated to contain high soy, combination of toasted full fat soybeans and soybean meal 48, and low soy, soy protein reduced and replaced with dried distillers grains with solubles, canola meal, meat and bone meal and synthetic lysine. From these two diets, three concentrations of dietary soy inclusion were generated including low (20% soy products), middle (28% soy products), and high (35% soy products) by using either 100% or a 50/50 mixture of the two diets. Experimental diets were fed to broilers from day 10 to 21. Nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and body weight gain data were collected. High soy inclusion significantly reduced feed intake in comparison to the both low and middle soy inclusions. Body weight gain, FCR and AMEn were not negatively affected

Evaluation of Energy Values of Various Oil Sources when Fed to Broiler Chicks

The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) values of seven different oil and fat sources used in broiler diets, primarily across the Midwestern US, were determined in a digestibility experiment. Fifteen days old, Ross 308 male broiler chicks were fed diets containing each oil or fat source at 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% inclusion levels for 7 days before excreta samples were collected to analyze AMEn on day 21. The AMEn was calculated using 2 different methods, including a linear equation slope method as well as calculating the difference between basal diet and oil containing diets. The AMEn values determined by linear equation slope method for the oil and fat sources were generally in line with historic data. Differences in animalvegetable blended fats were observed and care should be given when using these sources in feed formulations. Direct comparison of the excess energy contributed by the 3% diets provided an average of 69% increase over the energy value derived from the equations. This increase in estimated energy can be attributed to an extra caloric effect of the additional fat due to increased digesta transit time and absorption rate of dietary energy

Effect of Slow and Rapid Peroxidation of Corn Oil on the Performance and Energy Storage of Broiler Chicks

The extraction of corn oil from DDGS has led to an increase in the utilization of coil oil in poultry diets. This corn oil has the opportunity to undergo peroxidation during storage or processing. Therefore it is important to understand the effects of peroxidation of corn oil on growth and performance of broiler chicks. Broiler chicks were provided corn-soybean based diets containing unperoxidized corn oil (UPO), slowly peroxidized corn oil (SO; heated for 72 h at 95ᵒC), and rapidly peroxidized corn oil (RO; heated for 7 h at 185ᵒC). Corn oil was added at a 5% inclusion 0- 14 d and 10% inclusion 15-27 d. A fourth treatment consisted of a supplemental oil-free diet to be used to determine the apparent metabolizable energy nitrogen corrected (AMEn) of each corn oil diet. As expected the diets without supplemental oil resulted in reduced performance, but no significant differences were observed among oil-supplemented birds for body weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio (FCR). There was a significant difference in abdominal fat pad (AFP) weights of the broilers fed RO corn oil compared to the birds fed UPO corn oil. Analysis of samples for AMEn content is underway and will be reported shortly. Corn oil peroxidation status had minimal effects on broiler performance, but did result in differences in energy utilization as indicated by AFP weight