The Arginine Level for Chicks as Influenced by Ingredients

Diet selection by chicks

“…For more than a half-century , researchers have disagreed about what percentages of which supplements are necessary to support rapid growth in chicks fed purifiedcasein diets (e.g., Hegsted et al, 1941;Krautmann et al, 1957;Wietlake et al, 1954). The present data reveal that a variety of different combinations of supplements in different percentages will maximize intake and growth.…”

“…Arnold et al (1936) had initially demonstrated that purified casein, as a protein source for chicks, was grossly deficient in arginine-a finding subsequently confirmed by several other researchers (Krautmann et al, 1957;Snyder, Momson, & Scott, 1954;Wietlake et al, 1954). The contribution to growth of single amino acids other than arginine is less clear.…”

“…Adding either Larginine or gelatin to a corn-and-soy-based diet, however, did not affect growth. Krautmann et al (1957) obtained maximal weight gain when they supplemented a 21% casein-based diet with gelatin to provide a 1.4% level of arginine in the ration. They had also observed, however, that the amount of arginine that could be utilized in a caseinbased diet was affected by ingredients in the diet other than casein per se.…”

“…Although this is a standard practice in feeding trials with chicks (e.g., Balentine et al, 1981 ;Krautmann et al, 1957), there was a possibility that chicks' initial experience with the starter diet may have established a food preference that adversely affected their later acceptance of the DIET SELECTION BY CHICKS 247 purified-casein diet. Alternatively or in addition, the original diet may have altered the original protein profile required for growth, just as prior protein intake alters the protein requirement for body weight maintenance in many adult avians (Fisher, 1972).…”

“…Although chicks fed the purified-casein diet grew more poorly and had lower body temperatures than chicks fed a corn-and soy-based diet, both diet groups had been fed the corn-and soy-based diet for the 1st posthatch week in order to minimize yolk protein carryover (Krautmann, Hauge, Mertz, & Carrick, 1957). Although this is a standard practice in feeding trials with chicks (e.g., Balentine et al, 1981 ;Krautmann et al, 1957), there was a possibility that chicks' initial experience with the starter diet may have established a food preference that adversely affected their later acceptance of the DIET SELECTION BY CHICKS 247 purified-casein diet.…”