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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385154
Research Project: Eliminating Fusarium Mycotoxin Contamination of Corn by Targeting Fungal Mechanisms and Adaptations Conferring Fitness in Corn and Toxicology and Toxinology Studies of Mycotoxins

Location: Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research

Title: Effects of feeding varying levels of synthetic Methionine on live performance and yield of broiler chickens.

Author
item Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony
item TIMMONS, JENNIFER - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item MIN, BYUNGROK - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
item LEE, WILLIAM - Maple Leaf Farms
item CHEN, CHONGXIAO - North Carolina A&t State University
item MWANGI, SAMUEL - Alcorn State University

Submitted to: Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2021
Publication Date: 9/29/2021
Citation: Pokoo-Aikins, A., Timmons, J.R., Min, B.R., Lee, W., Chen, C., Mwangi, S.N. 2021. Effects of feeding varying levels of synthetic Methionine on live performance and yield of broiler chickens.. Animals. Animals 2021, 11,2839.. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102839.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102839

Interpretive Summary: The use of DL-methionine (MET) in poultry diet formulation is vital for poultry growth because poultry do not synthesize sufficient amounts of MET needed for proper growth and performance, and currently there are insufficient natural sources of MET to fulfill the dietary needs of broiler chickens. However, the use of MET is restricted in the United States in organic poultry diets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of feeding different levels of dietary MET on organic broiler live performance and yield of a modern commercial broiler strain. This study gives us insight into how broiler growth and yield is affected when the allowable levels of methionine for organic broilers is further reduced, or zero methionine is used.

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplemental DL-methionine (MET) on growth performance and meat yield for broilers raised to a target weight of 2.72 kg. A total of 1,552 one-day old Ross 708, sexed broilers were randomly distributed to 32 pens resulting in 8 treatments (TRT) of 4 replicates with 44 male or 53 female/pen. A randomized complete block with a 2 x 4 (sex x 4 MET levels 0, 0.5, 1, and 2g/kg) factorial arrangement of TRT was used. Target weight was achieved by day 46 (1 and 2g MET/kg feed) and day 48 (0 and 0.5g MET/kg feed). Supplementation of MET at 0.5, 1, and 2g /kg had a higher (p < 0.05) effect on body weight (BW), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at d 46/48 than broilers fed the control diet. Male broilers had a higher (p < 0.05) feed intake (FI) and BW than female broilers for all feed phases. Birds fed 0g MET/kg of feed had lower (p < 0.05) whole eviscerated carcass without giblets (WOG), breast fillet, and tender percent yield than birds fed 2g MET/kg of feed. Additionally, birds fed 0g MET/kg of feed had lower (p < 0.05) breast fillet and tender percent yields than birds fed 0.5 and 1g MET/kg of feed as well as significantly lower carcass percent yield than birds fed 1g MET/kg of feed. Females yielded higher (p < 0.05) wings, breast skin, breast fillet and tender than male birds while male birds yielded higher (p < 0.05) drumstick and boneless thigh percentages. Results from this experiment indicate, reduction of recommended levels (1g MET/kg feed) of MET level for organic broilers may result in reduced BW and breast fillet yield of broilers raised to d46/48 and MET supplementation may benefit some aspects of yield more than others but not affect the FCR of organic broilers raised to d46/48.