Response to Lysine Supplementation by Laying Hens Fed Practical Diets

Three experiments were conducted with Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens kept in wire floored cages to determine the effect of supplementing practical rations with l-lysine. Wheat-based rations containing 20% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDG/S) depressed rate of egg production and egg weight below that obtained with rations containing no DDG/S. Adding l-lysine to the ration containing DDG/S corrected the depression in egg production and egg weight. A basal ration containing corn, 20% DDG/S and cottonseed meal was used to estimate the requirement of laying hens for lysine. The results indicate that a level between 666 and 788 mg. per hen per day is necessary for optimum performance. A summarization of recent published results suggests that the requirement for lysine is higher for hens fed rations containing wheat in contrast to corn. In either case, however, the requirement appears to be higher than that currently suggested by the National Research Council.