Adequacy of Glutamic Acid Synthesis by the Chick for Maximal Growth

Similar weight gain but poorer feed efficiency was noted when chicks were fed a diet containing a mixture of l-aspartic acid, l-alanine, l-serine and diammonium citrate as compared with those of chicks fed l-glutamic acid as a source of dispensable amino acid nitrogen for 0–21 days of age. When the nitrogen supplied by diammonium citrate was replaced by increased amounts of l-aspartic acid and l-alanine, no differences in either weight gain or feed efficiency of chicks were noted. All comparisons of the utilization of the different sources of nitrogen were made on an isonitrogenous basis. These results indicate that there is not a dietary requirement for glutamic acid for maximal growth or feed efficiency of the young chick.