Amino acid supplementation of turkey breeder rations

Beltsville Small White turkey hens (60) were randomized into four groups of 15 hens each, weighed and placed in individual laying cages. Immediately after lighting to initiate production, they were placed on a practical type turkey breeder diet calculated to contain 18.26% protein, 2893 Cal. M.E./kg., 3.13% Ca, 0.80% available P, 1.04% arginine, 0.86% lysine, 0.50% methionine & cystine and 0.24% tryptophane. Amino acids were added to this diet as follows: (1) none; (2) 0.1% lysine; (3) 0.05% methionine and (4) 0.1% lysine & 0.05% methionine. Lysine (0.1%) had no effect on reproductive performance when added to the basal ration or to the ration containing additional methionine. Methionine addition (0.05%) improved production significantly (P less than or equal to .005), improved feed efficiency, and increased egg size.