Effect of Age on Feather Amino Acid Content in Two Broiler Strain Crosses and Sexes

Abstract

A description of the feather amino acid content from two distinct broiler strain crosses may provide needed information for nutritional purposes. Both sexes of the Ross x Arbor Acre and Steggle x Arbor Acre strain crosses were reared on corn-soybean meal-based diets exceeding the minimum NRC (1984) nutrient recommendations, with pooled feather samples taken from selected birds for amino acid analyses at different ages. Broiler age played a greater role than strain cross or sex in influencing individual and total essential amino acid contents. Total non-essential amino acids as a percentage of total essential amino acids increased as the bird aged, indicating feather compositional changes occurring during this time.