The Effect of a High Level of Dietary Amino Acid Nitrogen on Egg Production and Body Weight Maintenance

SEVERAL of the amino acid requirements of the chick have been established by feeding chicks for two weeks on a purified diet in which crystalline amino acids were used instead of intact protein. Chicks have been successfully grown on diets containing amino acid mixtures but not until recently (Fisher and Johnson, 1956) have amino acid diets been reported to be successful with laying hens. Hens have been fed purified diets using intact protein with amino acid supplements to establish some of the amino acid requirements. (Ingram et al., 1951; Leong and McGinnis, 1951; Miller et al., 1954; and Machlin, 1955). Ingram et al. (1950) attempted to formulate a diet using a mixture of pure amino acids that would support egg production. The amino acid compositions of casein, soybean oil meal and lactalbumin were used as a guide in formulating the diet. Egg production ceased after 4 days. Grau et al… .