RESPONSE OF GROWING GUINEA FOWLS (NUMIDA MELEAGRIS) TO DIETARY L-LYSINE SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

In two experiments, the performance of growing (day 1-6 weeks) guinea fowls, given 20 and 22.5% dietary protein supplemented with graded levels of lysine, was compared with control (25% protein birds). Weight gain, feed conversion and nitrogen retention were significantly (P.05) better in the control than other treatments at both 4 and 6 weeks of age. There was no growth response to 0.05% lysine supplementation in any of the diets. Supplementation of the 20% protein diets with 0.5% lysine produced significant (P.05) weight gains at both 4 and 6 weeks of age. However, supplementation of 22.5% protein diet with 0.5% lysine produced significant (P.05) weight gains, only, at 6 weeks. Best performances were obtained when total dietary lysine level was between 1.6% and 1.8% of the diet.