REQUIREMENT OF METHIONINE PLUS CYSTINE FOR PULLETS IN THE INITIAL PHASE (1 TO 6 WEEKS OLD)

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the requirement of methionine +cystine for growing pullets at starter phase (1 to 6 weeks old) and its effect on the laying phase. In the first experiment, 720 birds (50% Lohmann LSL and 50% Lohmann Brown) at one week of age were distributed on a completely randomized design, 5 x 2 factorial arrangement (levels of met + cys and strain), with four replications and 18 birds each. The levels of total methionine + cystine studied were 0.536; 0.616; 0.696; 0.776; and 0.856 %. At 22 weeks of age, 240 birds were used for the second experimental phase. The diets given to birds at this phase was the same for all the treatments. In the production phase, the residual effects of the experimental diets provided during the initial phase on the production parameters were evaluated. The level of methionine + cystine recommended for white-egg and brown-egg pullets in the period from 1 to 6 weeks of age are 0.778 % of total methionine + cystine (0.700% met + cis digestible) and 0.739% of total methionine + cystine (0.665% of digestible methionine + cystine), respectively. Keywords: amino acids; egg; hens; requeriments; sexual maturity.