CECT 5940 improves performance and gut function in broilers fed different levels of protein and/or under necrotic enteritis challenge.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effect of CECT 5940 (BA) as a probiotic on growth performance, amino acid digestibility and bacteria population in broiler chickens under a subclinical necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge and/or fed diets with different levels of crude protein (CP). Both studies consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 480 Ross 308 mix-sexed broiler chickens. In study 1, treatments included 1) NE challenge (+/-), and 2) BA (1.

Efficiency of methionine and cystine utilization by broiler chickens using stable isotopes.

The aim of this study was to develop a method to determine the efficiency of utilization of Met and Cys using stable isotopes in order to reduce the number of sacrificed animals relative to the comparative slaughter technique. Met and Cys efficiencies were obtained separately and as total SAA values. Twenty-one 14- to 28-day-old broiler chickens were fed experimental diets containing different Met:Cys ratios (44:56, 50:50 and 56:44).

Methionine to cystine ratio in the total sulfur amino acid requirements and sulfur amino acid metabolism using labelled amino acid approach for broilers.

Background: Assuming that part of Methionine (Met) is converted into Cystine (Cys), but ignoring the rates with which such phenomenon occurs may lead to an excessive supply of Met in poultry diets. Such inconvenient could be easily avoided with the knowledge of the ideal Met:Cys/Total sulfur amino acids (TSAA) ratio and the rates of Met conversion into Cys.

Results: Met sources did not affect performance.