Comparison of DL-Methionine and Its Sodium Salt in Water Solution in Broiler Starter Diets with Two Choline Levels

Graded levels of DL-methionine or a water solution of its sodium salt were added at equivalent levels to a broiler diet based on corn, soybean, and poultry by-product meals. Methionine addition to the basal diet produced only a small and statistically nonsignificant increase in gain. Gain/feed ratio was significantly increased by either methionine source; the two forms did not differ in value. Increasing the choline chloride added to the diet from 300 to 800 mg/kg did not improve performance nor reduce the value of the added methionine. The sulfur amino acid requirement of the broiler chicks was less than the .93% given by the National Research Council (1977).