Protein Level and Amino Acid Balance in the Laying Ration

THE generally recommended level of protein for laying rations is 15 percent. Reports continually appear, however, to indicate that higher levels of protein are of advantage, and, conversely, that satisfactory performance may be achieved with lower levels of protein. The variability in the level of protein found to be optimal suggests that differences in the amino acid composition of the rations fed may be responsible for the discrepancies in the protein levels recommended by different investigators. Depending upon the grain used in formulating laying rations of a certain protein content, the proportion of supplementary protein to cereal protein may vary considerably. As a consequence wide differences in amino acid balance may be encountered even in rations of similar protein content. The following experiment was designed to determine if a laying ration containing 70 percent of wheat and supplying a total of 14 percent protein from plant sources is adequate for…