Methionine Supplementation of Laying Hen Diets

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE research has been conducted in an attempt to determine the exact protein requirement of the laying hen. Several groups of workers (Reid et al., 1951; Milton and Ingram, 1957; and Hochreich et al., 1958) have reported that the diet must contain at least 17 percent protein in order to obtain maximum egg production. Whereas, others have indicated 15 percent protein was sufficient (Heuser et al., 1945) and in some instances 11 percent was barely adequate (Thornton et al., 1957). It is generally agreed that the quality of the protein source will affect the total protein required. According to calculations based on values of Titus (1955), methionine is indicated to be the first limiting amino acid in a corn-soybean oil meal type laying diet. However, earlier reports have indicated no response from supplementing such diets with methionine (Reid et al., 1951; Mehring et al., 1954; and Heywang, 1956). In view …