SUPPLEMENTAL DIETARY L-TRYPTOPHAN EFFECTS ON GROWTH, MEAT QUALITY, AND BRAIN CATECHOLAMINE AND INDOLEAMINE CONCENTRATIONS IN TURKEYS

1. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding s upplemental tryptophan during the two weeks before market on growth, m ortality during transportation, meal quality and brain neurotransmitte r concentrations in male turkeys. 2. Brain serotonin, 5-hydroxyindolea cetic acid and norepinephrine concentrations were increased dose-depen dently with 1.0, 2.0 and 3-0 g/kg supplemental dietary tryptophan. 3. Supplemental dietary tryptophan had no effect on body weight gain, foo d intake, food efficiency or mortality. 4. Carcase and individual thig h weights were significantly heavier in those birds fed 1.0 g/kg suppl emental tryptophan.