• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 2004

The present experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of methionine hydroxy analogue free fatty acid (MHAFA) in comparison to DL-methionine (DL-Met) utilizing day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=300). The chicks were randomly distributed into 30 groups of 10 chicks each. Three dietary treatments, viz. D1-maize-soybean meal based basal diet (Control), D2- control diet supplemented with DL- methionine to meet its requirements and D3-control supplemented with MHA-FA @ 1.54 times of DL-methionine used in D2, were formulated. Each dietary treatment was offered to 10 replicated groups of chicks following completely random design (CRD). The chicks fed on supplemental DL-Met had significantly higher (p<0.01) gain in body weight, followed by MHA-FA group and control during 0-3 weeks of age. During overall growth period (0-6 weeks), chicks in DL-Met and MHA-FA groups grew better (p<0.01) than those in control. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved (p<0.01) on supplementation of either DL- Met or MHA-FA in the basal (Control) diet during 0-3 weeks of age. The FCR for overall period, however, did not differ statistically (p>0.05) amongst the treatments. The eviscerated yields emanated from diets with DL-Met or MHA-FA were higher (p<0.01) than that in Control. Abdominal fat pad was also more (p<0.01) in broilers fed control diet than in DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented group. Breast yield was higher (p<0.05) in MHA-FA fed broilers than those fed DL-methionine supplemented or un-supplemented diets. The efficacy of MHA-FA in comparison to DL-Met for growth was 62.11, 64.82 and 63.88% and for feed efficiency was 62.98, 67.73 and 64.01% at 0-3, 3-6 and 0-6 weeks of age, respectively, while it was 65.85, 71.40 and 67.49% for eviscerated yield, abdominal fat pad reduction and breast yield at 6 weeks of age, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.1026-1032
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• 2006

The present experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of liquid methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) in comparison to DL-methionine (DL-Met) in broilers. 567 day-old Avian chicks were divided into 7 treatments with 5 replicates of 16 birds each. During the 35d (7-42 d) experimental periods chicks were given two basal diets. From 7 to 21d of age, a starting basal diet containing 19.5% protein and 0.33% methionine was supplemented with two graded levels of DL-Met (0.070 and 0.160%) or four levels of MHA-FA (0.118, 0.143, 0.221 and 0.268%). From 22 to 42d of age DL-Met (0.050 and 0.080%) or MHA-FA (0.071, 0.074, 0.112 and 0.140%) were added to a finishing basal diet with 18.0% protein and 0.28% methionine. Chicks fed on supplemental DL-Met or MHA-FA had significantly higher (p<0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the control group from 7-21d of age. During the finishing phase (22-42 d), body weight and weight gain of chicks in DL-Met or MHA-FA treatments were similar to those in the control, but FCR was improved (p<0.05) with supplementation of DL-Met or MHA-FA. Breast yield was higher (p<0.05) on DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented than un-supplemented diets. The thigh meat yields emanating from diets with DL-Met or MHA-FA were lower (p<0.05) than that in control. Abdominal fat was also higher in broilers fed the control diet than in DL-Met or MHA-FA supplemented treatments. Methionine requirement of broilers was calculated to be 0.44 and 0.35% and cystine requirement was 0.35 and 0.31% for the starting (7-21 d) and finishing phase (22-42 d), respectively. The efficacy of MHA-FA in comparison to DL-Met for weight gain was 64 and 85% and for FCR was 55 and 60% at 7-21 and 22-42 d of age, respectively, while it was 74, 72, 52 and 48% for breast yield, thigh meat production, body energy content and energy deposition ratio at 42 d of age, respectively. In conclusion, in practical diet formulation for broiler chicks the average bioavailability of MHA-FA relative to DL-Met could be considered as 60 and 73% for 7 to 21d and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.948-953
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• 2007

The relative performance and immune response was evaluated in White Leghorn layers fed liquid DL-methionine hydroxyl analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) relative to dry DL-methionine (DLM) in maize-soybean-sunflower based diets. Three graded levels of methionine (Met) from DLM or MHA-FA were added to the basal diet containing 0.27% Met on an equimolar basis to achieve 0.30, 0.36 and 0.42% Met in the diet. Each diet was fed ad libitum to 25 replicates of one bird (individual feeding) each, from 24 to 40 weeks of age. A regime of 16 h light was provided and all the layers were kept under uniform management throughout the experimental period. None of the parameters studied were influenced by the interaction between source and level of Met in diets. Similarly, the majority of parameters, except for daily feed consumption and immune response (influenced by level) and egg specific gravity and shell thickness (influenced by source), were not affected by either source or level of Met in the diets. Feed consumption was significantly lower in the birds fed a diet containing 0.42% Met compared to those fed lower levels of Met. The cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity response to PHA-P and antibody titre (32 and 40 wk) to inoculation of sheep red blood cells increased significantly by increasing the concentration of Met in the diet from 0.30 to 0.36%. Thus, the Met requirement for immune competence was higher than for optimum production. The source of Met significantly influenced the egg specific gravity and shell thickness. The specific gravity and shell thickness of eggs increased significantly when MHA-FA was used as the source of Met in the diet compared to DLM. From the study it is concluded that Met requirement for immune competence (360 mg/b/d) is higher than for optimum production (300 mg/b/d). MHA-FA was comparable with DLM as a source of Met for production performance and immunity, when the bioavailability of MHA-FA was considered as 88% of DLM. Further, MHA-FA improved egg shell quality compared to DLM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2005

A study consisting of 3 trials was designed to assess the relative biological efficacy of DL-methionine (DL-Met) in comparison to liquid methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA-FA) in growing pigs. In trial I a basal diet was supplemented with three graded levels of DL-methionine (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg) or liquid MHA-FA (0.0285, 0.0570 and 0.0855 g/kg) on equimolar basis. The basal diet contained 18.3% CP, 0.22% Met and 0.51% Met+Cys, which is below the methionine requirement for weaned pigs between 10 and 20 kg BW according to NRC (1998) but adequate in all other essential nutrients and energy. Using an exponential model, the efficacy of the two methionine sources was estimated from nitrogen retention data obtained in 42 piglets with an initial BW between 11.0 kg (Exp. 1) and 11.7 kg (Exp. 2). In trials II and III, with a total of 192 and 96 pigs, and with an initial BW of 10.6 and 21 kg, respectively, growth response criteria were assessed to determine if in agreement with previous studies in pigs and poultry a biological effectiveness of about 65% on average could be confirmed for liquid MHA-FA in comparison to DL-met. Based on N-retention (trial I) the biological efficacy of liquid MHA-FA on a weight-to-weight basis was calculated to be 62% relative to DL-met. Basically, these results were confirmed using growth response criteria as measures; the results of trial II and III revealed no significant differences in growth performance and feed conversion between treatments indicating that 100 parts of liquid MHA-FA can be replaced by 65 parts of DL-met.