WPC2012 - Salvador - Bahia - Brazil • 5 - 9 August - 2012 Book of Abstracts

LEVELS OF DIGESTIBLE LYSINE AND CRUDE PROTEIN ON

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTIVE
STRAIN FROM HENS WITH 40 TO 55 WEEKS OF AGE1

Ariolino Moura de Oliveira Neto2, Marise Stela Paes de Azevedo3, Rosylaine de Jesus Barbosa3,
Gleicianny de Brito Santos3, Claudson Oliveira Brito4, Marcia Nunes B. Roner4

1
Support FAPEMIG
2
Master's of Pós-Graduation Zootechny's Course – DZO/UFV. linomouraneto@hotmail.com
3
Master's of Pós-Graduation Zootechny's Course – DZO/UFS.
4
Associate Professor of Departament of Zootechny – DZO/UFS.

ABSTRACT
The study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of productive strain from
hens Dekalb White fed different levels of lysine and protein in the production phase
from 40 to 55 weeks of age. 2880 laying hens were used at 24 weeks of age with 12
treatments and 12 replicates of 20 birds each. Diets were formulated to meet the
requirements of the birds, except for lysine (dig lys) and crude protein (CP), which were
used in the levels of 0.775, 0.825, 0.875 and 0.925%, and within each level of lysine
used Three levels of crude protein: 15.5, 16.5 and 17.5%. The variables evaluated are
average weight of eggs (AW), egg mass (EM), percentage of production (PP), feed
conversion per dozen eggs (FCD) and feed conversion per egg mass (FCM). No
interaction was found between the levels of CP and dig lys for the variables analyzed.
There was no significant difference in AW and FCD with increasing CP level. For
variables FCM and EM 16.5% of CP showed a better result. The AW along with the
increasing level of CP. For dig lys levels was not found significant difference in EM,
FCD and FCM. In PP 0.875% dig lys was significantly higher than other levels. It was
observed that increasing AW to a higher level of dig lys. It is recommended for Dekalb
White hens during the production of 40 to 55 weeks diets with 0.875% dig lys and
16.5% CP diet, for best results for performance of egg production.
KEYWORDS: digestible amino acids, eggs, hens, ideal protein

INTRODUCTION
The deficiency or excess of at least one nutrient can reduce animal performance. Protein
is one of these nutrients and participates in many biological functions and the formation
of the egg, hence its importance for layers. Currently, researchers are concerned to
determine the requirement of amino acids by poultry because rations as calculated by
the concept of crude protein may contain excess or deficiency of amino acids. Thus, we
adopt the concept of ideal protein for which the diet has a theoretically exact balance
of amino acids, capable of providing, without excess or lack of all necessary amino
acids for maximum animal performance. In diets based on corn and soybean meal,
lysine is the second limiting amino acid for birds and the concept of ideal protein is the
amino-reference. Therefore, the estimate of lysine requirement for laying hens is a key
point in formulating rations properly balanced according to this concept (ROCHA et al.,
2009).The study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of productive strain
from hens Dekalb White fed different levels of lysine and protein in the production
phase from 40 to 55 weeks of age.
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WPC2012 - Salvador - Bahia - Brazil • 5 - 9 August - 2012 Book of Abstracts

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted in the installations of the poultry business company
Granja Ovos do Sítio, located in São Cristovão-Brasil/SE. 2880 hens were used brand
Dekalb White, during the period 40-55 weeks of age. Up to 23 weeks of age the birds
were fed commercial food, water unconstrained, management according to the
recommendations of the strain. At week 24, the birds on the basis of average weight and
percentage of egg production, were distributed in a randomized block design, factorial
scheme 4x3 (lysine x CP), totaling 12 treatments with 12 replicates of 20 birds per
experimental unit.

The diets were formulated to attend the nutritional requirements at each stage of
production, according to the recommendations of Rostagno et al. (2005), except for
crude protein (CP) and lysine (dig Lys). The treatments corresponded to the levels of
CP (15.5, 16.5 and 17.5%) and dig Lys (0.775, 0.825, 0.875 and 0.925%). The
characteristics were evaluated during the period were egg production percentage (%),
average egg weight (g), egg mass (g), feed conversion per dozen eggs produced (kg /
dz), feed conversion per egg mass (kg / kg). To calculate the percentages of eggs / bird /
day, was dividing the total number of eggs produced by birds of each installment and
the number of days multiplied by 100. Egg mass was obtained by multiplying the
average egg weight by percentage of the egg production. Feed intake was fixed for all
treatments.

Statistical analyzes were realized using the program SAEG (Sistema para Análises
Estatísticas e Genéticas), developed by Federal University of Viçosa (2000).
Comparisons of means were made based on the Student-Neuman-Keuls test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

For none of the variables studied interaction was observed between levels of digestible
lysine and crude protein (Table 1). The average egg weight (AW) was higher with
increasing levels of CP that is, 16.5 and 17.5% had a higher weight (P <0.05) compared
to the level of 15.5%. Silva (2006) observed the same behavior by increasing the levels
of CP in the diet (12, 14, 16 and 18%) of Hisex White strain hens. Rising levels of dig
Lys. also increased the AW, making 0.925% dig Lys. present a higher weight (P <0.05)
compared to levels of 0.775 and 0.825%.

The percentage of production (PP) did not differ between levels of CP (P >0.05),
but by observing the levels of dig Lys. it’ possible to see that 0.875% showed a better
result and differed significantly from 0.925%. Jordão Filho et al. (2006), in a study with
seven levels of dig Lys. (0.79, 0.83, 0.87, 0.91, 0.95, 0.99 and 1.03%) for strain Hisex
Brown hens at peak production, found a similar behavior when faced with levels
average dig Lys. (0.87 and 0.91%) resulting in higher levels of PP than the others.

In the evaluation of egg mass (EM) there was no significant difference (P >0.05)
at different levels of dig Lys. However, for CP, the level of 16.5% showed a better
outcome differed significantly (P <0.05) of 15.5%. In the same way also was observed
by Silva (2006), where levels of 16 and 18% CP did not differ between itself, but were
better than the levels of 12 and 14% CP.

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WPC2012 - Salvador - Bahia - Brazil • 5 - 9 August - 2012 Book of Abstracts

Table 1. Average weight of eggs, egg mass, percentage of production, feed conversion
per dozen and egg mass from laying hens fed different levels of dig Lys. and CP.
Crude Digestible Lysine %
Variables
Protein % 0,775 0,825 0,875 0,925 Mean
15,5 62,90 62,24 62,52 63,41 62,76b
Average
16,5 63,10 63,41 63,42 63,61 63,38a
Weight of Eggs
17,5 62,79 63,42 64,30 64,19 63,67a
(g)
Mean 62,93b 63,02b 63,41ab 63,74a 1,68*
15,5 56,12 54,85 56,76 54,16 55,47b
16,5 56,78 56,92 57,33 56,31 56,83a
Egg Mass (g)
17,5 55,92 55,10 57,55 56,81 56,35ab
Mean 56,27a 55,62a 57,21a 55,76a 4,87*
15,5 89,22 88,14 90,81 85,48 88,41a
Percentage of
16,5 90,04 89,83 90,43 88,53 89,71a
Production
17,5 89,07 86,87 89,57 88,54 88,51a
(%)
Mean 89,44ab 88,28ab 90,27a 87,52b 4,69*
Feed 15,5 1,44 1,46 1,42 1,51 1,46a
Conversion Per 16,5 1,43 1,44 1,43 1,45 1,44a
Dozen 17,5 1,45 1,49 1,44 1,45 1,46a
(kg/dz) Mean 1,44a 1,46a 1,43a 1,47a 5,27*
Feed 15,5 1,92 1,96 1,89 1,98 1,94b
Conversion Per 16,5 1,89 1,89 1,87 1,90 1,89a
Egg Mass 17,5 1,92 1,96 1,86 1,89 1,91ab
(kg/kg) Mean 1,91a 1,93a 1,87a 1,92a 5,19*
a,b
Means followed by different letters in the same column or row differ from each other by SNK test (P <0,05).
*CV

For the variable feed conversion per dozen (FCD) and feed conversion per egg mass
(FCM), the formulation with 16.5% CP was that provided the best values, however only
in FCM showed a significant difference (P <0.05). A similar effect was observed by
Costa et al. (2004) when used for FCM 16.5% of CP for Lohmann Brown laying hens.
Despite the FCM not statistically different for levels of dig Lys (P =0.06), using 0.875%
demonstrates a possible improvement. However Jordão Filho et al. (2006) also observed
no significant difference for FCM (P >0.05).

CONCLUSION
It is recommended for Dekalb White hens during the production of 40 to 55 weeks diets
containing 0.875% of dig Lys and 16.5% CP diet, in the best performance results for
egg production.

REFERENCES
COSTA, F. G. P., SOUZA, H. C., GOMES, C. A. V., BARROS, L. R., BRANDÃO,
P. A., NASCIMENTO, G. A. J., SANTOS, A. W. R. and AMARANTE JUNIOR,
V.S. (2004) Levels of crude protein and metabolizable energy on the production and
eggs quality of Lohmann Brown layers strain. Ciênc. agrotec., Lavras, v. 28, n. 6, p.
1421-1427, nov./dez.

World´s Poultry Science Journal, Supplement 1, Expanded Abstract- Poster Presentation

WPC2012 - Salvador - Bahia - Brazil • 5 - 9 August - 2012 Book of Abstracts

JORDÃO FILHO, J., SILVA, J. H. V., SILVA, E. L., RIBEIRO, M. L. G.,

COSTA, F. G. P. and RODRIGUES, P. B. (2006) Lysine requeriment of semi-heavy
laying hens during the peak of egg production. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia., v.35,
n.4, p.1728-1734, (supl.).
ROSTAGNO, H.S., ALBINO, L.F.T., DONZELE, J.L. et al. (2011) Brazilian Tables
For Poultry and Swine: feed composition and nutritional requirements. Viçosa, MG:
UFV, Departament of Zootechny, 141p.
ROCHA, T. C. R. et al. (2009) Digestible lysine levels in feed for 24 to 40-week old
laying hens. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, v.38, n.9, p.1726-1731.
RIZZO SILVA, M.F. (2006) Performance, egg quality, and nitrogen balance of
commercial laying hens fed different dietary levels of crude protein, methionine and
lysine. 2006. 107p. Thesis – Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos,
Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga.

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