Lysine requirement of hens fed diets with corn as the major cereal grain

Two experiments were conducted to determine the lysine requirement of laying hens. Corn was used as the cereal grain, and cottonseed meal, peanut meal, and corn gluten meal supplied supplemental protein. In Experiment 1 a daily lysine intake of 607 mg. per hen per day was adequate for maximum egg production and egg weight. In Experiment 2 basal diets were calculated to contain 2880 M.E. kcal/kg. or 3110 M.E. kcal/kg. The lysine requirement for the lower energy diet was 657 mg. per hen per day and for the higher energy diet was 636 mg. per hen per day. A lysine requirement of 650 mg. per hen per day is recommended.