Methionine and Lysine in Rations for Turkey Poults Under Various Dietary Conditions

IN 1944, the turkey poult's protein requirement was set at 24% of the diet by the National Research Council (NRC). In 1950, the NRC increased the suggested requirement to 28%. Fritz, Halpin and Hooper (1947) reported that protein levels above 26% were required for maximum early poult growth. Scott, Heuser and Norris (1948) demonstrated that 24% protein was adequate with a low energy ration, whereas 28–30% protein was required when a ration higher in energy was employed. Calculations by the author of the productive energy content (Fraps, 1946) of these diets indicated values of about 700 and 830 Calories per pound, respectively. Considerable information is available showing increased growth due to methionine supplementation (Bird et al., 1948; Atkinson et al., 1953; Ferguson et al., 1956, 1957; Pepper and Slinger, 1955; and others); however, factors regulating the methionine requirement require further elucidation. The work of Ferguson et al. (1957) using …