Effects of the Starter Diet, Light Intensity, and Essential Amino Acids Level on Growth and Carcass Composition of Broilers

Abstract

Optimal return in broiler production requires a better understanding of interactions between nutrition at different ages and environmental factors. In the present experiment, the effect of the starter diet on subsequent response of male broilers to increasing levels of essential amino acids (EAA) in their diet (85, 95, 105, and 115% of NRC) from 21 to 42 d of age were evaluated under 2 light intensities (80 and 5 lx). Results confirmed that EAA requirement of finishing broilers might be higher than 115% of the recommendation of the NRC. Light intensity did not interact significantly with the nutritional factors. A more concentrated starter diet persistently stimulated growth and breast development but might reduce the resistance of broilers to stresses. Early nutrition of broiler chicks requires further research.