Protein is the material basis of life. Muscles, skin, feathers, nerves, internal organs, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, etc. all contain a large amount of protein and participate in the metabolic activities of the body. Therefore, protein and amino acid not only maintain the life of poultry, but also have a very close relationship with the growth, development, inheritance, disease resistance and egg formation of poultry. When poultry lacks protein and amino acids, its metabolism will be impaired, resulting in growth inhibition, decreased productivity, and reduced disease resistance.
What are the symptoms when poultry lacks protein and amino acids？
When chicks lack protein and amino acids, their growth and development will be slow, and their feathers will be loose and dull. Physical weakness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, slightly hypothermia. Subcutaneous edema often occurs due to low plasma colloid osmotic pressure. The total number of red blood cells and hemoglobin decreased, resulting in anemia, and the weight gain did not reach the expected effect.
In addition to the above-mentioned symptoms, adult poultry will also gradually lose weight, and egg production will decrease or stop. Males have poor sperm motility, low fertilization rate and hatchability.
Whether it is young poultry or adult poultry, due to the decrease of albumin and globulin content in the blood, the disease resistance of poultry is poor, and many other diseases are often secondary to death.
How to prevent poultry from lacking protein and amino acids？
1. Ensure the protein content in the poultry diet
In addition to energy, vitamins and minerals, protein is also an important factor when formulating poultry diets. Generally speaking, grains and bran have less protein content, and the nutritional value of protein is not complete. Therefore, it is necessary to properly match plant and animal protein feeds in the diet. The content of protein feed in the diet of chickens: about 20% for chicks and broilers, 14%-16% for laying hens, of which animal protein feed should not be less than 3%.
2. Pay attention to the balance and antagonism of various amino acids
Insufficiency of limiting amino acids will affect the utilization of other amino acids. Therefore, attention should be paid to supplementing feed and additives rich in these amino acids in the diet. Note the antagonism between certain amino acids, such as arginine and lysine, and between valine, leucine, and isoleucine. When formulating the diet, increasing the amount of one or two amino acids in a certain group should also increase the amount of other amino acids in the same group, otherwise it will cause deficiency.
3. Adjust the feed formula in time
When determining the protein and amino acid requirements of poultry, it should be adjusted according to the type, age, productivity, ambient temperature, energy level of the diet and other factors of the poultry. Do not use a certain feed formula for a long time.
4. Pay attention to product quality
When formulating feed, attention should be paid to the quality of protein. Poor quality protein contains incomplete types of essential amino acids and less content. In addition, in the feed preparation method, such as heat-treated beans, when the temperature is too high, the activity of lysine and arginine will be reduced, the cystine will be destroyed, and the nutritional value of its protein will be reduced.
Polifar is committed to animal nutrition research, and improves the economic benefits of farm breeding by scientifically adding feed additives.