Effect of supplementation of choline chloride, vitamin B₁₂, lysine and methionine in a sole plant protein based diet on broiler performance

A feeding trial of 4 weeks duration was conducted with day old broiler chicks to assess the effect of supplementation of lysine, methionine, choline and vitamin B₁₂ in a fish meal free plant protein based diet. The birds on basal diet containing 10% fish meal gained 412.7g while those on a plant protein based diet wherein fish meal was replaced equally betw~n expeller GNC and soybean meal gained only 183.7g. The addition of lysine and methionine either at low or high levels resulted in a weight gain of only 173.0 and 243.5 g, respectively. The inclusion of choline and vitamin B₁₂ to a low lysine diet was not benefical while in a high lysine and metione diet the birds gained 417.8 g, similar to the reference diet. The plant protein diet containing GNC, soyabean meal and sunflower meal in the ratio of 3:3:1 in total replacement of fish meal supported a total gain of 459 g and at the same time helped to reduce the supplemental requirement for lysine and methionine.