Use of protein supplement in broiler chicken diets

Abstract

The research findings on a protein supplement in the diets of Ross 308 chickens are discussed. The research goal was to investigate the effect of a protein supplement on hematological indices and amino acid composition of poultry meat proteins. The diet for broiler chickens in the control group contained full-fat soybean meal in amounts of 7.5%, 10%, and 12%. In the first trial group, 50% of full-fat soybean meal, from the initial amount specified in the control group diet was replaced with a protein supplement. In the second trial group, 75% of full-fat soybean meal was replaced, and in the third trial group, full-fat soybean meal was completely replaced with a protein supplement. It was found that the live weight of the second trial group at the end of the experiment was 2480.71 g, while that in the control group was by 3.01% less. The average live weight of chickens in trial groups 1 and 3 exceeded that of chickens in the control group by 2.5-2.6%. Hematological tests revealed a moderate increase of the red blood cell count (RBC) in chickens of the trial groups. The highest RBC count (3.4 × 10¹² L) was recorded in broiler chickens from trial group 2. RBC counts in trial groups 1 and 3 corresponded to identical values of 3.2 × 10¹² L, while in the control group, they were 3.1 × 10¹² L. The tests of the amino acid composition of meat indicated increase of the total amino acid count in the samples from the trial groups. The highest amount of amino acids in the second trial group was 17.48 mg per 100 g of product, and the index of the third trial group was 17.38 mg per 100 g of product which was by 0.28 more than in the samples of broiler chickens obtained from the control group.