The Amino Acid Requirement of the Laying Hen I. The Development of a Free Amino Acid Diet for Maintenance of Egg Production

Abstract

A free amino acid diet has been developed which was readily consumed in adequate amount by most hens with concomitant maintenance of normal egg production. The factors found to be of greatest importance in the formulation of this diet were the purity of amino acid source and the caloric level of the diet. In the latter respect, starch and 12% corn oil were used to maintain a high energy level with the amino acid mixture. Egg production provided an extremely sensitive criterion of amino acid requirement since on deficient diets production always ceased within one week. The usefulness of the free amino acid diet in studying amino acid requirements as well as other nutrients is emphasized.