Studies with Corn-Soya Laying Diets

THE experimental evidence indicates that 12 percent protein corn-soya diets contain a marginal level of protein for meeting the amino acid requirements of laying pullets (Waibel and Johnson, 1961; Adams et al., 1961; and Bray and Morrissey, 1962). Although the practical problem is one of adequately supplementing the 12 percent protein diet so that the requirements for all amino acids are met under a range of feeding conditions, the near adequacy of such diets limits the response to amino acid supplementation. When practical rations are formulated to contain 12 percent protein, corn provides 60 percent of the protein. In order to critically evaluate the pattern of limiting amino acids of a 12 percent protein ration, basal diets containing a 60:40 blend of corn and soybean protein were fed to pullets at either the 8.5 or 9.0 percent protein level during a short-term assay in the studies reported herein. The…