Re-evaluation of Arginine Requirements for Broilers Exposed to Hypobaric Condition during the 3-to 6-week Period

Abstract

In order to estimate arginine (Arg) requirements of male broilers (Ross 308) during the 21-to 42-day period and exposed to hypobaric condition, six diets (200 g/kg CP and 13.4 MJ ME/kg) with graded levels of Arg (8.8 to 14.3 g/kg) were allocated to four pens of twelve birds each. Body weight gain, feed:gain, breast meat yield, plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV) were determined as response criteria. Responses to Arg supply were nonlinear and attained plateau values (y_max) within the studied range of Arg supply. The estimated Arg requirements for maximal body weight gain and optimal feed:gain during the 21 days under study were 12.4, and 12.2 g/kg of diet, respectively. The estimated Arg requirement for maximizing breast meat yield was 12.6 g/kg of diet. Based on the response in plasma NO and RV/TV, the estimated requirements were 13.0, and 13.2 g/kg of diet, respectively. Data obtained for the individual factors clearly indicate that the NRC recommendations for Arg are not sufficient for maximizing body weight gain, optimizing feed:gain and preventing the onset of pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens exposed to hypobaric condition. Data may be used for future modeling of broilers’ Arg requirements.