The Amino Acid Requirement of Laying Hens

Abstract

THE protein requirement for egg production has been studied extensively during the past two decades. Although 15% crude protein (nitrogen×6.25) has generally been accepted as satisfactory for laying rations, considerable variation from this level has been reported. In part the variation in recommended protein allowances is due to the difficult problem of integrating the maintenance, growth and production requirements of the hen. On the other hand, much of the variability may be attributed to differences in protein intake resulting from differences in dietary energy concentrations. It is generally accepted that feed intake of poultry is governed under most conditions by the dietary caloric density (Hill and Dansky, 1954). Since protein requirements are commonly expressed as a function of diet weight (i.e. percentage of diet) they are dependent upon the amount of feed consumed. The limitations of expressing protein requirements as a percentage of the diet have been noted…