RECENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN POULTRY NUTRI TION AT THE DEPARTMENT-OF-ANIMAL-NUTRITION OF THE UNIVERSITY-OF-VETERINARY-SCIENCE, BUDAPEST

The nutritional problems associated with poultry feeding are complex a nd require basic as well as applied research. The research topics main tained during the time period of 1989-1996 can be grouped into several categories such as: nutritional effect of amino acids, biological val ue of protein sources, effect of feed additives, as well as the physio logical role of heavy metals. The biological efficiency of a lysine-HC l product produced by microbiological fermentation, as well as the eff ects on body weight gain of combinations of glycine with lysine and me thionine were investigated. The effectiveness on weight gain of methio nine-hydroxy-analogue and methionine were compared. The possibility of improving the protein quality of amaranth was studied. Several feed a dditives (vitamin-B-12 containing preparates, defluorized phosphate, N a-butyrate, by-products of the xilite production, ionized water, algin it) were also tested in broiler growth trials. The relationships of nu trition and body composition, as well as the digestive ability of pige ons were also studied. Complex studies were made on the physiological role, tolerance and adverse effects of the heavy metals (cadmium and a luminium) in broiler chickens and laying Japanese quails.