| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary protein level on nitrogen retention and compare nitrogen metabolism in Lohmann Brown adult roosters and layers. The nitrogen maintenance requirement ( Nm ) was determined based on the nitrogen balance. Thirty Lohmann Brown adult roosters and 30 laying hens at 27 weeks of age were randomly divided into five groups of six birds per group. The birds were fed with one of five diets containing 10.46%, 11.77%, 13.79%, 16.77% or 18.29%of crude protein. Nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency were higher in roosters than in laying hens, and the average nitrogen retention rate for groups fed with CP level of 11.77%,13.79%, 16.77% and 18. 29% was improved by 9.14%. The nitrogen maintenance requirement for Lohmann Brown roosters and laying hens at 27 weeks of age were 0.4245 g/d and 0.5059 g/d, respectively,and Nm based on average body weight (BW) and metabolic body weight ( BW0.75 ) was 0.2364 g/kg BW and 0.2739 g/kg BW0.75 for laying hens and 0.2754 g/kg BW and 0.3208 g/kg BW0.75 for roosters, respectively. The regression equations for daily N gain ( NB, protein accretion) vs. daily N intake ( NI )for Lohmann Brown layers and roosters were NB =0.3743NI -0. 1589(R2 =0.79) and NB =0.6228NI -0.3151 (R2 =0.85),respectively. The results of this study indicate that nitrogen intake and nitrogen retention at the same dietary CP level were higher in roosters than in laying hens. |
