Tryptophan requirements determination for poultry maintenance

• Grant number: 14/25090-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Nilva Kazue Sakomura
• Grantee: Bruno Balbino Leme
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/25761-4 - Modeling production and nutritional requirements of poultry and fish, AP.TEM

Abstract

The focus of this research is to determine the maintenance requirement of tryptophan for birds. 42 cocks Cobb over seven treatments that consist of six increasing levels of tryptophan and a level against competition (seventh treatment) will be used. The experimental period is 120 hours, with the first 48 hours period for emptying the gastrointestinal tract. During this period birds receive a mixture of 50% water and sucrose to maintain energy homeostasis. 72 hours later, the birds will be fed the experimental diets for intake needs to then be collected excreta trays adapted under the cages. Excreta and diets will be analyzed to determine nitrogen (N). The variables will be analyzed intake (NI) and nitrogen excretion (NEX). The nitrogen balance (BN) is calculated by the difference being NI and NEX. The requirement of tryptophan for maintenance is obtained by linear regression of BN according to the NI being defined as the amount necessary to maintain the amino acid BN zero.