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The Effects of DL-methionine and DL-methionine Hydroxy Analogue on Growth Performance, Contents of Serum Amino Acids and Activities of Digestive Proteases in Broilers |
J. J. Lu, C. W. Huang, R. G. R. Chou |
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Abstract |
This study was conducted to determine the effect of DL-methionine (Met) and DL-methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) supplementation on the growth performance, contents of serum amino acids and activities of digestive protease in broiler chicks from 0 to 3 weeks old . There were three treatments in this study: (1) control (basal diet), (2) 0.24% Met supplementation and (3) 0.368% MHA supplementation. The results showed that Met and MHA supplementation did not significantly (p>0.05) improve feed efficiency and body weight gain for broilers from 0-1, 0-2 and 0-3 weeks of age. The serum levels of homocystine, methionine and taurine were significantly (p<0.05) higher with supplementation of Met or MHA than with control. The pepsin activity of proventriculus was increased with (p<0.05) Met supplementation at 21 days of age and with MHA supplementation at 7 and 14 days of age. The trypsin activity was also increased (p<0.05) with MHA supplementation at 7 days of age. The chymotrypsin activity in pancreas and the dipeptidase activity in small intestinal mucosa and content were not affected (p>0.05) by Met or MHA supplementation. |
Keywords:
Methionine; Broiler; Growth Performance; Serum Amino Acids Pattern; Digestive Proteases |
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