Comparison of DL-Methionine, DL-Methionine-Na, DL-Methionine Hydroxy Analogue-Ca, and DL-Methionine Hydroxy Analogue-Free Acid with Layers

Two 12-week trials with laying hens were conducted to compare the effectiveness of DL-methionine, DL-methionine-Na, DL-methionine hydroxy analogue-Ca (MHA-Ca) and DL-methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) with a practical type basal diet deficient in sulfur amino acids. In the first experiment, DL-MHA-Ca was compared with DL-methionine at molar equivalent methionine levels of .05, .10, .15, and .20%. On a composite basis, feed conversion efficiency of the DL-methionine fed birds was slightly but significantly superior to that of the MHA-Ca fed birds. In the second experiment, DL-methionine, DL-methionine-Na and MHA-FA were tested, each at molar equivalent methionine levels of .05 and .10%. DL-Methionine and DL-methionine-Na produced similar laying hen performance; performance of hens fed the MHA-FA supplemental diets was distinctly inferior to that of birds fed the other two methionine sources.