Nutritional feasibility of L-valine inclusion in commercial broiler diets

Abstract

Research addressing the application of crystalline l-Val as a feed-grade amino acid to commercial broiler diets has not been known. An experiment was conducted to assess whether l-Val would adequately support growth if included in practical broiler diets, and if so, to pinpoint a recommended level of inclusion for l-Val. Male broilers were fed common diets up to 28 d of age, and were then fed one of various l-Val inclusion levels ranging from 0 to 1.3 kg/ metric ton until 42 d of age. This was accomplished by blending a diet with no l-Val with one that contained 1.3 kg of l-Val. As a result, equal levels of dietary Val were present in all diets, concomitant with decreases in other limiting dietary amino acids (Ile, Arg, or both). After data were analyzed, linear decreases for BW gain, feed intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, and breast meat yield were observed as levels of l-Val were increased in the diet. For live performance and carcass traits, we observed that an l-Val inclusion level of 0.52 kg/metric ton supported adequate growth and meat yield when compared with a diet devoid of l-Val. Inclusion levels of l-Val greater than 0.52 kg/ton resulted in poorer feed conversion, breast meat weight, and breast meat yield. Based on these results, l-Val supplementation at levels below 0.52 kg/ metric ton showed the ability to support good production and could potentially offer a useful diet cost reduction alternative. © 2011 Poultry Science Association, Inc.