Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms
In a protein reduction feeding trial (Study 1) on a commercial broiler farm in northern Germany, it was attempted to be shown that research results from station tests on protein reduction can be transferred to agricultural practice. In a second study, the limits of the N reduction were tested in a r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/33 |
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| author | Kilian Fenske Andreas Lemme Elmar Rother Heiner Westendarp |
| author_facet | Kilian Fenske Andreas Lemme Elmar Rother Heiner Westendarp |
| author_sort | Kilian Fenske |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a protein reduction feeding trial (Study 1) on a commercial broiler farm in northern Germany, it was attempted to be shown that research results from station tests on protein reduction can be transferred to agricultural practice. In a second study, the limits of the N reduction were tested in a research facility. In Study 1, commercial standard feeds were fed to the control group (variant 1:210,000 animals; <i>n</i> = 5 barns). In the test group (variant 2:210,000 animals; <i>n</i> = 5 barns), the weighted mean crude protein (CP) content was moderately reduced by 0.3%. The nitrogen reduction in the feed did not affect performance (feed intake (FA), daily gain (DG), feed conversion (FCR)), but nitrogen conversion rate increased from approx. 61% to approx. 63%. The solid litter weight was reduced by 12% and nitrogen excretion by 9% (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significantly healthier footpads were due to lower water intake (−4%; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and a numerically drier bedding. In Study 2, responses of treatments (1250 broiler per variant; <i>n</i> = 5) showed that sharper N-lowering (−1.5% CP; weighted average) did not impair performance either, but N-conversion improved and N-excretions decreased significantly. Converted to a protein reduction of one percentage point, the N excretions were able to be reduced by 22% in Study 1 and 18% in Study 2. Feeding trials in the commercial sector, such as the present Study 1, should convince feed mills and farmers to allow the latest scientific results to be used directly and comprehensively in commercial ration design. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:55:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fdea254559ae4ba688bf9353cb7b4a87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:55:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-fdea254559ae4ba688bf9353cb7b4a872023-11-30T20:44:43ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-12-011313310.3390/agriculture13010033Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler FarmsKilian Fenske0Andreas Lemme1Elmar Rother2Heiner Westendarp3Department of Nutritional Physiology and Animal Nutrition, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, GermanyEvonik Operations GmbH, Nutrition & Care, 63457 Hanau, GermanyEvonik Operations GmbH, Nutrition & Care, 63457 Hanau, GermanyDepartment of Animal Nutrition, University of Osnabrück, 49076 Osnabrück, GermanyIn a protein reduction feeding trial (Study 1) on a commercial broiler farm in northern Germany, it was attempted to be shown that research results from station tests on protein reduction can be transferred to agricultural practice. In a second study, the limits of the N reduction were tested in a research facility. In Study 1, commercial standard feeds were fed to the control group (variant 1:210,000 animals; <i>n</i> = 5 barns). In the test group (variant 2:210,000 animals; <i>n</i> = 5 barns), the weighted mean crude protein (CP) content was moderately reduced by 0.3%. The nitrogen reduction in the feed did not affect performance (feed intake (FA), daily gain (DG), feed conversion (FCR)), but nitrogen conversion rate increased from approx. 61% to approx. 63%. The solid litter weight was reduced by 12% and nitrogen excretion by 9% (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significantly healthier footpads were due to lower water intake (−4%; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and a numerically drier bedding. In Study 2, responses of treatments (1250 broiler per variant; <i>n</i> = 5) showed that sharper N-lowering (−1.5% CP; weighted average) did not impair performance either, but N-conversion improved and N-excretions decreased significantly. Converted to a protein reduction of one percentage point, the N excretions were able to be reduced by 22% in Study 1 and 18% in Study 2. Feeding trials in the commercial sector, such as the present Study 1, should convince feed mills and farmers to allow the latest scientific results to be used directly and comprehensively in commercial ration design.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/33low proteinnitrogenamino acidcommercial farmsbroilersammonia |
| spellingShingle | Kilian Fenske Andreas Lemme Elmar Rother Heiner Westendarp Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms Agriculture low protein nitrogen amino acid commercial farms broilers ammonia |
| title | Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms |
| title_full | Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms |
| title_fullStr | Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms |
| title_short | Scaling Up the Effects of Low Nitrogen in Commercial Broiler Farms |
| title_sort | scaling up the effects of low nitrogen in commercial broiler farms |
| topic | low protein nitrogen amino acid commercial farms broilers ammonia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/33 |
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