Maintenance protein requirement and efficiency of utilization in poultry

摘要

Protein requirement can be established based on the factorial method, which takes into account maintenance and protein deposition requirements. Maintenance protein requirements can be estimated as the amount of protein needed to maintain the bird in nitrogen balance (Scott et al., 1982). Nitrogen requirement for maintenance (Nm) can be determined by the relationship of N intake with N retention estimated by the slaughter comparative method or N balance measured in metabolic trials. However, the studies carried out at UNESP, based on N retention determined by the comparative slaughter technique, provided Nm higher than those reported in the literature.