Nutrient Requirements of Poultry and their Management
Poultry nutrition has always been an important topic, but it takes on additional significance when you’re raising birds for meat or eggs. You want to be sure your birds are getting all the nutrients they need to maintain good health and maximize productivity, which is where this guide comes in. We cover everything from basic protein and fat requirements to lesser-known vitamins and minerals that are essential to poultry health and wellbeing.
 |
| Nutrient Requirements of Poultry and their Management |
Main nutrients in feed
The requirements for energy (calories) vary with body weight. For adult chickens, about 4,000 calories are needed for each kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight to support maintenance, whereas a broiler consumes about 8,000 calories per kilogram per day. Protein requirements also vary with age; 10 grams per day will meet requirements for turkeys at one month old; 16 grams per day is required at four months old; 23 grams are needed at six months old; 28 grams are required at eight months old; 35 grams are needed at ten months old; 41 grams are required at 12 months old. About 40% of total nutrients should be provided as protein in poultry diets, which is why amino acids must be included in turkey starter diets.
Also Read: 10 Most common Poultry Diseases
Energy content
The energy content of a feed is calculated by multiplying its gross energy by a conversion factor, which in turn is determined from a nutrient analysis. There are two methods for determining gross energy: one uses dry matter intake and metabolizable energy; the other uses metabolizable organic matter intake and organic matter digestibility . The result is expressed as Mcal/kg. Gross Energy = Mcal per kg dry matter intake, or
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and amino acids
The nutrient requirements of poultry will vary depending on its life stage, physiological status and its nutritional needs. For instance, egg-laying hens have higher requirements for protein and amino acids (e.g., lysine) compared to meat-type chickens. Both need high levels of nutrients to support organ growth, especially in cases where intestinal pathogens could be a problem (i.e., broilers). Regardless of age or type, all poultry need carbohydrates for energy production; however, amounts needed also depend on whether birds are active or resting.
Mineral element
minerals are inorganic chemical elements needed for life. The term mineral is archaic since it does not include carbon-based compounds that are essential for plants and animals. For example, a human requires 13 minerals to live, which can be classified as macro-nutrients (the 10 elements needed in largest quantity) or micro-nutrients (3 additional). The list below contains what some claim to be essentials. The first four come from rocks (largely silicates), water, or air. Plants get them from rocks or soil, while animals have internal stores of these elements. Note that hydrogen is on both lists—as a donor in some molecules, but also as an acceptor in many enzymes.