The effects of dietary protein independent of essential amino acids on growth and body composition in genetically lean and fat chickens

1. Growth performance between 28 and 49 d of age and carcase composition at 49 d in genetically lean (LL) and fat (FL) broilers fed on diets varying i n non-essential amino acid (NEAA) concentrations were compared in 2 experim ents. In experiment 1, 3 crude protein (CP) contents (133, 155, and 178 g/k g) were compared. In experiment 2, 4 CP levels (131, 150, 170 and 189 g/kg) were compared. All diets were supplemented with synthetic amino acids to c over the EAA requirement of the LL birds. 2. Weight gains of FL chickens were not affected by dietary treatments, whi le those of LL increased when CP level increased. 3. Reducing CP content always increased body lipids, abdominal fat and food conversion ratio in both lines in both experiments; however the effect on abdominal fat was more pronounced in the FL birds. 4. Reducing CP concentration always decreased breast muscle proportion in b oth lines in both experiments, even when growth rate was not affected by CP . 5. It is concluded that LL chickens require diets more concentrated in NEAA than fat chickens and that there seems to be an effect of NEAA on breast m uscle development.