OPTIMAL DIETS FOR EGG-PRODUCTION

1. The Reading model for the egg production of a flock as determined b y the intake of a single amino acid is based on the assumption that ot her amino acid intakes are not limiting egg production. This can resul t in an overestimation of the optimum intakes of each amino acid consi dered. 2. In this paper a model is introduced and an optimisation proc edure presented that will allow the calculation of the optimal amounts of each of a number of amino acid intakes. 3. The method is illustrat ed by an example and the sensitivity of the results to different metho ds of calculation and different Values of the parameters investigated. 4. A computer program, available from the authors, calculates optimal amino acid intakes for a flock defined in terms of the distribution o f body weight and potential maximum egg production of the birds; the c osts of the amino acids, and the value of a unit of extra egg producti on. The program also allows the flock to be divided into 2 sub-flocks according to body weight and optimal diets calculated for each sub-flo ck.