EVALUATION OF NATIONAL-RESEARCH-COUNCIL AMINO-ACID RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LARGE WHITE TURKEYS

Two trials of identical experimental design were conducted to evaluate the NRC (1994) amino acid requirements for growing turkeys. Diets wer e formulated for 4-wk age intercraIs using intact ingredients and amin o acid supplements to provide 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120% of the suggested requirements. Formulation was done in a manner to mi nimize excess levels of as many essential amino acids as possible. Day -old male poults of a commercial Large White strain were grown to 20 w k on the test diets with body weight and feed conversion determined at intervals throughout the test; representative samples of birds were p rocessed to determine carcass composition and parts yield. Results sug gested that diets formulated to provide 105% of the suggested NRC requ irements were needed to provide maximum body weight gain, feed convers ion, and breast meat yield. Ambient temperatures in the present study frequently exceeded 27 C and may have contributed to the need for some what greater amino acid needs than the present NRC (1994) suggestions.