Studies on the Lysine and Tryptophan Requirements of the Laying and Breeding Hen

IN A previous report (Ingram et al., 1950) it was shown that corn gluten meal supplemented with tryptophan and lysine as the source of protein in an otherwise purified diet would support a fair rate of production in the laying hen. Egg production on this ration was 47 percent while the omission of either of the above amino acids resulted in much lower egg production. Cravens (1948) had shown that a ration composed largely of corn and corn gluten meal when fed to the laying hen would maintain the hen in laying condition for an extended period of time. Using this ration, he obtained approximately 38 percent egg production in a fifteen week experiment. In an effort to determine the lysine and tryptophan requirements of the laying hen, it was decided to use a corn-corn gluten meal ration supplemented with lysine and tryptophan. EXPERIMENTAL Single Comb White Leghorn pullets were . . .