Liquid methionine as a drinking water supplement for broiler chicks

Three experiments were conducted to study the effect of a liquid methionine source supplied through the water on chick performance. Methionine at .025, .05, and .075% (Experiment 3, only) from the liquid source were added to the drinking water and compared with .05 and .075% (Experiment 2 and 3) dry methionine supplementation in a methionine-deficient basal. A dry DL-methionine was used for diet supplementation in Experiments 1 and 2, and both liquid and dry sources were used in Experiment 3. Day-old (Cobb) feather-sexed broiler chicks received these treatments for 3-week periods. Mortality was not significantly altered by any of the treatments. In two of the three experiments neither feed nor water intake was significantly affected by treatment. In Experiment 2, control birds consumed significantly less feed than other groups, and daily water intake of birds that received .05% supplemental feed methionine was elevated above that of other regimens. Fecal moisture and fecal sodium levels were not elevated above those measured from the unsupplemented basal. In all three studies comparable levels of methionine from feed or water supported equivalent body weights. Within the limits of these tests, liquid DL-methionine provided in the drinking water was effectively assimilated by broiler chicks and increased total methionine intake, which increased growth.