Effects of dietary digestible lysine levels on protein and fat deposition in the carcass of broilers

Effects of dietary digestible lysine levels on protein and fat deposition in the carcass of broilers

Tavernari F de C^I; Buteri CB^II; Rostagno HS^III; Albino LFT^III

^IPost - Graduate Program in Animal Science - UFV. [e-mail]

^IIEscola Agrotécnica Federal de Salinas

^IIIAnimal Science Department - UFV

^{Mail Address}

ABSTRACT

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of different levels of digestible lysine in the diets of male and female broilers on protein and fat deposition. A total of 2160 Avian Farms broilers. A completely randomized experimental design was applied, and treatments consisted of the effects of three digestible lysine levels nested within each sex, with 12 replicates and 30 birds per experimental unit. The adopted digestible lysine levels corresponded to 92.5, 100.0, and 107.5% of the nutritional requirements of phases 1 to 21 days, 22 to 42 days, and 43 to 56 days of age, respectively. In each phase, the experimental diets contained similar calorie and protein levels within each sex. No significant effects of lysine levels were found on dry matter and fat percentages in the carcass of birds during the evaluated periods. Also, there were no significant effects of lysine levels on protein and fat deposition in males or females. However, males presented higher protein deposition and lower fat deposition than females during the total experimental period. Gompertz equations showed that females deposit more fat and less protein than males, and that this affected the fall in the curve of protein deposition, when the curve of fat deposition was still rising. Therefore, it was concluded that the older the broilers at slaughter, the higher their body fat content and the lower their body protein content, particularly in females.

Keywords: Avian Farms, body composition, Gompertz equation.

INTRODUCTION

The genetic evolution observed in the last few years allowed significant reduction of broiler market age and important increase in growth rate. During the same period, an increase in body fat content was also observed. According to Kessler (1999), high feed intake capacity of modern broiler strains and inadequate dietary balance are the main factors responsible for the increment of fat deposition presented by these birds.

According to Scheuermann et al. (1995) and Wiseman & Lewis (1998), excessive carcass fat reduces processing yield and value of commercial cuts. In addition, the presence of fat residues in the water used during processing impairs proper effluent treatment (Mcleod, 1982). This stimulated the research on carcass quality, particularly in reduction of carcass fat content and increase in lean tissue yield (Leeson, 1995).

In practice, a certain amount of intramuscular fat is desirable to ensure chicken meat tenderness, juiciness, and flavor (Lin, 1981; Leenstra, 1986). In this sense, there is an increasing interest in the effect of nutrition on carcass traits. Among the different nutrients that may affect live performance and carcass quality, lysine seems to have the most noticeable effects. Several researchers observed that high lysine levels in broilers feeds reduce carcass fat content, and increase protein accretion (Eits et al., 2002; Ajinomoto, 2009).

Also, the knowledge on body protein composition and accretion has allowed the establishment of animal nutritional requirements by researchers. It is well-known that genetic companies adopt different selection criteria to produce birds with different body compositions, and according to Han & Baker (1993), birds with different body compositions have different nutritional requirements. Establishing nutritional requirement equations for each genetic strain, under different rearing conditions, may allow determining these requirements faster and more efficiently as compared to experimental procedures.

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary digestible lysine levels on fat and protein deposition in carcass of male and female broilers and to adjust Gompertz equations describing male and female broiler growth and protein and fat deposition during a 56-day experimental period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The trial was conducted at the Poultry Sector of the Animal Science Department of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). Average temperature recorded during the period of 1 to 21 days of age was 23.1°C (17.8 minimum and 28.3°C maximum temperatures); during the period of 22 to 42 days of age was 20.9°C (17.9 minimum and 23.9°C maximum temperatures) and 18.2°C (14.3 minimum and 22.1°C maximum temperatures) during the period of 43 to 56 days of age.

A number of 2160 one-day-old males and females Avian Farms chicks, with average initial weights of 43.8 g and 42.5 g, respectively, was used. A completely randomized experimental design was applied, and treatments consisted of the effects of three digestible lysine levels nested within each sex, with 12 replicates and 30 birds per experimental unit.

Birds were housed in a conventional poultry house, divided in 1.0 x 2.0 m pens. Wood shavings were used as litter. Birds were managed according to the recommendations of the genetic company manual (Granja Planalto, 1999). Water and feed were offered ad libitum during the entire experiment.

Feeds were based on corn, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal, and contained three different digestible lysine levels (DL) for each rearing phase and sex. During the starter phase (1 to 21 days), males were fed diets containing 1.073 (DL1), 1.160 (DL2), and 1.247% (DL3), and females 1.018 (DL1), 1.100 (DL2), and 1.183% (DL3) digestible lysine (Table 1). During the grower phase (22 to 42 days), males were fed 0.981 (DL1), 1.060 (DL2), and 1.140% (DL3), and females 0.925 (DL1), 1.000 (DL2), and 1.075% (DL3) digestible lysine (Table 2). During the finisher phase (43 to 56 days), males were fed 0.888 (DL1), 0.960 (DL2), and 1.032% (DL3), and females 0.833 (DL1), 0.900 (DL2), and 0.968% (DL3) digestible lysine (Table 3). DL1, DL2, and DL3 digestible lysine levels corresponded, respectively, to 92.5, 100.0, and 107.5% of the recommendations of the Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine (Rostagno et al., 2000) for each rearing phase and sex.

In each phase, the experimental diets contained similar calorie and protein levels within each sex.

Body composition in dry matter, crude protein and fat, and protein and fat deposition in the carcass of male and female broilers were evaluated.

In order to determine weekly body composition, two birds per experimental unit were randomly selected, submitted to a 6 hours fasting period, weighed, and sacrificed by neck dislocation. After defeathering, carcasses were weighed to determine feather weight. A sample of the feathers was collected and stored in the freezer.

Two whole carcasses per experimental unit, with viscera and blood, were ground for 15 min in a commercial cutter, and after homogenization, a sample was collected and stored in the freezer.

When preparing for laboratory analyses, carcass and feather samples were pre-dried in a forced-ventilation oven at 60 °C for 72 hours. Due to their high fat content, carcasses were previously de-fatted using heat methodology in a SOXHLET apparatus for four hours. The pre-dried and pre-defatted samples were then ground in a knife mill, and placed in duly identified flasks for subsequent analyses.

Dry matter, protein, and fat analyses were carried out at the Animal Nutrition Laboratory of the Animal Science Department of UFV, according to the methods described by Silva (1998). A sample of 32 one-day-old chicks was also processed as described above.

Body protein and fat contents were calculated by multiplying the percentages of protein and fat by de-feathered carcass weight and feather weight obtained during the weekly weighting and sacrifice. Protein and fat depositions were calculated comparing carcass and feather compositions of the birds slaughtered at different ages.

Based on weekly weight and body composition data of the entire experimental period, Gompertz curves were adjusted, which allowed the comparison of body weight, protein accretion, and fat deposition. Their derivates allowed establishing daily weight gain, protein gain, and fat gain curves. The following Gompertz equation was used:

where: M = body or tissue weight (g); t = age (days); A = body weight or amount of tissue at mature age (g); B = maximum rate of weight gain or tissue deposition (g/day per g); C = age at maximum growth or tissue deposition (days); e = 2.718282 (base of the Neperian algorithm).

The Gauss-Newton procedure of SAEG software package (UFV, 1999) was used to determine the equation parameters.

Weight at 21 days of age was used as covariate in the analysis of variance of the 22 to 42 days period, and weight at 42 days was used for the 43 to 56 days period.

The studied parameters were statistically analyzed using SAEG (Sistema de Análises Estatísticas e Genéticas - System of Statistical and Genetic Analyses) software package, developed by Universidade Federal de Viçosa (1999). Means were compared using the test of Student Newman-Keuls (P<0.05).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Body composition

There were no significant effects of lysine levels on dry matter or fat percentage on bird carcass during the different evaluated periods. As to protein composition, there were significant differences only for 42-day-old females, with no differences between those fed DL1 or DL2, which protein carcass content, however, were significantly higher than those fed DL3.

These results show that a 7.5% reduction or increase in the digestible lysine levels determined by Rostagno et al. (2000) were not sufficient to cause changes in the body composition of male and female birds during the period of 1 to 56 days of age. The obtained data are consistent with those observed by Summers & Leeson (1985) and Conhalato (1998), but disagree with Kubena et al. (1972), Holsheimer (1980), Hurwitz et al. (1998), and Ajinomoto (2009).

Protein and fat deposition

No significant effect of lysine levels (P >0.05) was observed on fat deposition during the studied period (1 to 56 days). Protein deposition was influenced by the studied lysine levels only in 6- and 7-week-old males. In 6-week-old males, DL2 e DL3 levels did not result in different protein deposition, which was, however, higher than in broilers fed DL1. On the other hand, DL1 resulted in statistically higher protein deposition than DL2 in 7-week-old birds; however, protein deposition promoted by DL3 was not different from DL1 or DL2.

The lack of effect of lysine levels on protein and fat deposition indicates that the weekly interval possibly does not allow this effect to be detected. Another possible explanation is that the random selection of birds analyzed for body composition may have contributed to increase the coefficients of variation, preventing the detection of statistically significant differences. Nevertheless, the use of birds with average replicate weight seems to be the most adequate for this type of study.

Table 4 shows the daily protein and fat deposition results of 1- to 21-day-old male and female broilers as a function of digestible lysine levels.

There was no significant effect of digestible lysine level on protein or fat deposition in male or female broilers during the studied period. Males presented higher protein deposition as compared to females, but fat deposition was not different. Based on these results, it is not recommended to increase dietary lysine levels to reduce fat deposition and to increase protein deposition in 1 to 21-day-old broilers.

The absence of effects of increasing lysine levels on protein deposition during this phase was also reported by Kubena et al. (1972), with birds reared at 32.2ºC, and Summers et al. (1992) and Conhalato (1998), who worked with diets formulated according to the ideal protein concept. Other researchers, such as Sibbald & Wolynetz (1986), Tesseraud et al. (1992), Holsheimer & Ruensink (1993), Scheuermann et al. (1995), Edwards et al. (1999), Eits et al. (2002), and Ajinomoto (2009) observed that increasing lysine levels increase body protein deposition.

As to fat deposition, Kubena et al. (1972), Summers & Leeson (1985), Summers et al. (1992), Conhalato (1998), and Eits et al. (2002) also did not observe any reduction in fat deposition when feeding broilers with increasing lysine levels during the starter phase, which is consistent with our results. On the other hand, Gous & Morris (1985), Holsheimer & Ruensink (1993), Scheuermann et al. (1995), Hurwitz et al. (1998), and Ajinomoto (2009) concluded that increasing lysine levels during this phase reduced body fat deposition in broilers.

Table 5 shows the daily protein and fat deposition results of 22 to 42-day-old male and female broilers as a function of digestible lysine levels.

There was no significant effect of lysine levels on fat deposition for males or females, nor on protein deposition for females. As to male protein deposition, DL2 promoted higher deposition as compared to DL1, but these two levels were not different from DL3. Males presented higher protein deposition and lower fat deposition as compared to females. These results preclude the increase of dietary lysine levels beyond those recommended by Rostagno et al. (2000) with the aim of reducing fat deposition and increasing protein deposition in broiler carcasses.

In the studies of Holsheimer & Ruensink (1993) and Conhalato (1998), no effects of increasing lysine levels on protein deposition were observed. However, Scheuermann et al. (1995), Eits et al. (2002), and Ajinomoto (2009) concluded that increasing dietary lysine levels in this phase increase body protein deposition.

Summers & Leeson (1985), Holsheimer & Ruensink (1993), Conhalato (1998), and Eits et al. (2002) also did not find any effects of dietary lysine levels on fat deposition, as opposed to Scheuermann et al. (1995) and Ajinomoto (2009), who found a direct relation between increasing lysine levels and fat deposition reduction in grower broilers.

Table 6 shows the daily protein and fat deposition results of 43- to 56-day-old male and female broilers as a function of digestible lysine levels.

There was no effect of dietary lysine levels on female protein deposition or on male and female fat deposition during this period. Male protein deposition values promoted by DL1 and DL3 levels were not different, but were higher than those observed when DL2 was fed. Protein deposition was higher in males than females, whereas females presented higher fat deposition as compared to males. The results show that, at this age interval, a 7.5% reduction or increase in lysine levels increase protein deposition in males. These findings are opposite to those obtained by Summers et al. (1992) with grower broilers. The results obtained in the present experiment do not allow the recommendation to increase lysine levels to reduce fat deposition or to increase protein deposition in 43- to 56-day-old broilers.

Table 7 shows the daily protein and fat deposition results of 1 to 56-day-old male and female broilers as a function of digestible lysine levels.

There was no significant effect of dietary lysine levels on protein or fat deposition of male and female broilers during the studied period. Males presented higher protein deposition and lower fat deposition as compared to females. Based on these results, it is not recommended to increase lysine levels beyond the established requirements aiming at reducing fat deposition or increasing protein deposition of 1- to 56-day-old broilers.

Gompertz curves and derivates

Table 8 shows the parameter values of Gompertz equations fit for body weight of female and male broilers as a function of dietary digestible lysine levels during the period of 1 to 56 days of age.

The values obtained for parameter A are similar to those established by Hancock et al. (1995) and lower than those obtained by Gous et al. (1999). B and C values were lower than those found by Hancock et al. (1995). The analysis of the equation parameters shows that the mature body weight (A) of males is always higher than that of females, and that increasing lysine levels increased the value of this parameter both in males and females; there was a slight difference between males and females as to age at maximum growth (C), and lysine supplementation delayed the age when it occurred; and maximum growth rate (B) was higher in males as compared to females, and increasing lysine levels reduced its value. The values of the coefficient of determination show the high degree of efficiency of the Gompertz equation to describe broiler growth. Similar R2 values were observed by Freitas et al. (1983) and Wiseman & Lewis (1998) for the same parameter.

Increasing lysine levels in female and male broiler diets during the period of 1-56 days of age increased bird weight gain, reduced maximum growth rate, and delayed age at maximum growth.

Table 9 shows the parameter values of Gompertz equations fit for protein deposition of female and male broilers as a function of dietary digestible lysine levels during the period of 1 to 56 days of age.

The observed A and B values are higher, and C values are lower than those determined by Hruby et al. (1995) and Gous et al. (1999). The analysis of the equation parameters shows that the mature protein content (A) of males is always higher than that of females, and that the highest value in males was obtained with DL3 lysine level and the lowest with DL2, whereas in females, increasing lysine levels increased this value. Also, age at maximum protein gain (C) was similar between males and females, and DL2 promoted the lowest value in males, while DL1 and DL3 did not result in any differences. Maximum protein deposition rate (B) was higher in males, and increasing lysine levels reduced this value in females, whereas DL2 promoted the highest value in males, and DL1, the lowest. The values of the coefficient of determination for protein deposition are similar to those established by Hruby et al. (1995) and show the high degree of efficiency of the Gompertz equation to describe this variable.

When body weight and protein deposition curves are compared, it is observed that age at maximum gain agrees matches age at maximum protein deposition both in males and females. Graph 1 shows the effects of dietary lysine levels on protein deposition and daily protein gain of male and female broilers in the period of 1 to 56 days.

Table 10 shows the parameter values of Gompertz equations fit for fat deposition of female and male broilers as a function of dietary digestible lysine levels during the period of 1 to 56 days of age.

A and C values are higher, and B values are lower than those determined by Gous et al. (1999). The analysis of the equation parameters shows that mature fat content (A) of females is always higher than that of males, with the highest value obtained with DL1 and the lowest with DL2 in females, whereas in males increasing lysine levels reduced A values. Age at maximum fat gain was higher in females, and increasing lysine levels reduced age at maximum fat deposition (C) in males. A different behavior was observed in females, with DL1 resulting in the highest C value and DL2, the lowest. Maximum fat deposition rate (B) was higher in males, where increasing lysine levels determined increase in B values, while in females the highest value was obtained with DL2 and the lowest with DL1. The values of the coefficient of determination are lower than those of the previous equations; however, they still demonstrate the high degree of efficiency of the Gompertz equation to describe fat deposition in broilers.

When protein and fat deposition curves are compared, it is observed that age at maximum protein deposition in males and females is much lower than age at maximum fat deposition, demonstrating that even after protein deposition decreases, fat deposition continues to increase for some time. Therefore, the older the broilers, the higher their body fat content. Graph 2 shows the effects of lysine levels on fat deposition and daily fat gain of males and female broilers during the period of 1 to 56 days of age

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing or increasing dietary digestible lysine levels 7.5% below or above the established requirements is not sufficient to cause significant changes in body composition or in protein and fat deposition during the period of 1 to 56 days of age of male and female Avian Farms broilers. Females deposit more fat and less protein as compared to males. After the fall in the protein deposition curve, the fat deposition curve continues to rise, and therefore, the older the broiler at slaughter, the higher its body fat content and the lower its body protein content, particularly in females.

Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by Educational Commission of Hubei Province of China (Project No. D20091808). The authors would like to thank X. Guo for assistance with lutein assays.

Arrived: March/2009

Approved: July/2009

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Aug 2009
• Date of issue
  June 2009

History

• Accepted
  July 2009
• Received
  Mar 2009