The Influence of Methionine on Commercial Laying Hens

This experiment was conducted to measure the performance of hens when three levels of Methionine (Met) were fed at two levels of energy and two levels of protein (a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments). Egg output increased as the Met intake increased. As the amount of egg output increased, the amount of Met required to produce a gram of egg output increased. The daily energy intake also increased as the Met intake increased. These outcomes were accompanied by an increased egg output. The kcal of energy required to produce a gram of egg output decreased as egg output increased. These findings indicate that both Met and energy influences feed intake. It is suggested that the intake of Met controls the amount of egg output, and the hens consume energy to meet the requirement for this amount of egg output.