Nutrient requirements of meat chickens (broilers)

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The intake of nutrients is a function of the amount of feed eaten and the nutrient levels in the diet.

Feed consumption and body weight

There are a number of factors that influence voluntary feed intake. These are discussed in the section on feed intake. Table 1 provides data on typical feed consumption and bodyweight for modern broiler chickens in relation to age and sex.

Table 1. Bodyweight and cumulative feed consumption for male and female broilers (g)

Age (weeks)	MaleBodyweight	MaleCumulative Feed Intake	FemaleBodyweight	FemaleCumulative Feed Intake
0	40	0	40	0
1	170	150	165	145
2	450	480	420	460
3	865	1120	780	1030
4	1410	2020	1250	1825
5	2250	3200	1750	2830
6	2700	4500	2300	4020
7	3350	6000	2800	5400
8	3900	7400	3300	6800
9	4400	8800	3700	8200

Source: Poultry CRC

Nutrient levels for broiler diets

Feeding strategies for broiler chickens will vary depending on the target market for the final product. Strategies for feeding broilers destined for the whole bird market will differ from strategies for broilers destined to be sold as pieces. Furthermore, the nutrient intake of fast growing broilers must be carefully controlled to prevent metabolic diseases such as ascites and leg weakness. Table 2 provides data on typical levels of selected nutrients for broiler diets.

Table 2. Examples of broiler diets

Nutrients	Starter	Grower	Finisher
Age fed	0-10	11-24	25-slaughter
Crude protein (%)	22-25	21-23	19-21
ME (MJ/kg)	12.60	13.30	13.50
ME (kcal/kg)	3010	3175	3225
Total Arginine (%)	1.48	131	1.11
Digestible Arginine (%)	1.33	1.18	1.00
Total Lysine (%)	1.44	1.25	1.05
Digestible Lysine (%)	1.27	1.10	0.92
Total Methionine (%)	0.51	0.45	0.39
Digestible Methionine (%)	0.47	0.42	0.36
Total Methionine +Cystine (%)	1.09	0.97	0.83
Digestible Methionine +Cystine (%)	0.94	0.84	0.72
Total Threonine (%)	0.93	0.82	0.71
Digestible Threonine (%)	0.80	0.70	0.61
Total Trypophan (%)	0.25	0.22	0.19
Digestible Tryptophan (%)	0.22	0.19	0.17
Total Valine (%)	1.09	0.96	0.81
Digestible Valine (%)	0.94	0.83	0.70
Calcium (%)	1.0	0.90	0.85
Available phosphorous (%)	0.50	0.45	0.42
Sodium (%)	0.16	0.16	0.16

Source: Ross Broiler Management Manual 2009

See Also:

• Ross 308 Broiler Performance Objectives 2012
• Ross Nutrition Supplement 2009